The impending revolution : the prospect for openness in Korean-American adoptions

Abstract

This thesis explores the potential for openness in international adoptions and, more specifically, in Korean-American adoptions. Open adoptions are becoming more common in the United States. More adoptees are also searching for their birthfamilies. These changes resulted from social evolutions that reduced the stigmas surrounding adoption and illegitimacy. Changes in domestic adoptions affect international adoptions because both international adoptees and their adoptive parents are exposed to the adoption rights movements in this country. It seems probable that international adoptees will desire contact with their birthfamily as domestic adoptees have. This thesis uses the trend toward openness in the United States and the regulations governing international adoptions to create a list of factors to be evaluated when determining if openness in an international adoption would be beneficial to all members of the adoption triad, specifically the birthmothers, and therefore, probable. It is important to recognize that a birthmother may not always benefit from an open adoption. These factors include residency requirements for the adoptive parents during the adoption proceedings; specific definitions of adoption; stigmatization of illegitimacy; reverence for blood ties; the national divorce rate; population control legislation; a women's health care movement; and an adoption rights movement or birthmother organizations. Evaluating the specific situation in Korea at this time, it seems unlikely that open adoptions are currently possible. However, many social changes, especially connected with the status of women in Korean society, are currently taking place that will likely make open adoptions possible in the future.