A Framework for Use with Racially and Culturally Integrated Families: The Cultural-Racial Identity Model as Applied to Transracial Adoption

Baden, Amanda L.; Steward, Robbie J.

doi:10.1023/a:1009493827019

Cited by 53 publications

(44 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…Although Andujo's findings appear to link the colour-blind socialization approach with white adoptive parents, it would seem that the key message is that the type of socialization approach employed is the crucial factor. In their development of a cultural-racial identity model, Baden and Steward (2000) describe the conflicting challenge of identifying with both white parents' cultural group and one's own birth culture. In an earlier paper on the role of TRA parents, Baden and Steward (1997, p. 10) suggested that 'parental attitudes and beliefs that either affirm or discount the transracial adoptees' culture and racial group membership' would affect the development of cultural-racial identities.…”

Section: Theoretical Frameworkmentioning

confidence: 99%

‘Doing the right thing’: transracial adoption in the USA

Barn¹

2013

Ethnic and Racial Studies

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Racial/cultural identity and parental cultural competence in transracial adoption (TRA) are subjects of fierce debate and discussion in contemporary western societies. The ongoing practice of TRA has led to a polarization that either supports or berates the suitability of the environment provided in such homes. The external scrutiny invariably creates doubt among white adoptive parents as to whether they are 'doing the right thing'. By drawing upon extant literature and original qualitative research carried out in New York, this paper explores adoptive mothers' conceptualization and understanding of racial/ethnic socialisation (RES). The paper puts forward three discursive approaches. It is argued that the ways in which white adoptive mothers understand and experience diversity influences their approach to RES, which in turn is mediated through family and community networks and societal discourses on race, power and hierarchy.

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Section: Theoretical Frameworkmentioning

confidence: 99%

‘Doing the right thing’: transracial adoption in the USA

Barn¹

2013

Ethnic and Racial Studies

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“…Racial identity is a particularly challenging issue for transnational adoptees and their families, in part, because they must "develop a sense of internal [family] identity" at the same time that they are attempting to come to some consensus as to how "cultural socialization" and social interactions will be externally negotiated with respect to their racially and ethnically diverse family (Galvin, 2003, p. 239;Weir, 2001Weir, , 2003. As Baden and Steward (2000) suggest, this process is complex given that adoptees must manage a number of cultural and racial influences stemming from both their own birth culture and that of their parents. Moreover, adoptive parents make decisions regarding the degree to which they will, intentionally or unintentionally, affirm or discount the cultural and racial group memberships of their children, thereby further influencing the identity formation processes of their children (Baden, 2002;Baden & Steward, 2007).…”

Section: Constructing Racial and Family Identitiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Role of Heritage Camps in Identity Development Among Korean Transnational Adoptees: A Relational Dialectics Approach

Randolph

Holtzman

2010

Adoption Quarterly

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This study contributes to the literature on transracial adoptions in two important ways: (1) it compares how parents and transnational adoptees negotiate racial and family identities through the use of heritage camps and (2) it informs that comparison with insights garnered from the theory of relational dialectics. The results, which are based on interviews with Korean-born children and Caucasian-American parents (matched parent-child pairs), suggest that parents utilized camps to both downplay their children's racial differences and give credence to their children's "unique" lives. Adoptees, in contrast, were not concerned with downplaying race; instead, they reported that although camps were fun, they did not impact their sense of identity significantly because they did not do enough to address the racial challenges they faced. These results suggest a potential disjuncture between parental purposes for utilizing heritage camps and the actual experiences of adoptees while at these camps. Moreover, they suggest that additional empirical attention should be paid to adoption policies and practices that explicitly address the racial and ethnic needs of transnational adoptees.

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“…Existing literature has treated transracial adoptees as a homogenous group (Baden & Steward, 2000), and is largely based on quantitative studies. While not without merit, these studies often do not explore the unique individual experiences of transracial adoptees.…”

Section: Research Summarymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Briefly, the model, consisting of two axes, one that explores cultural identity and the other that examines racial identity, produces 16 potential cultural-racial identities (Baden, & Steward, 2000;Steward & Baden, 1995). This model assesses the degrees to which adoptees "have knowledge of, awareness of, competence within, and comfort with their own racial group's culture, their parents' racial group's culture, and multiple cultures as well as the degree to which they are comfortable with their racial group membership and with those belonging to their own racial group, their parents' racial group, and multiple racial groups" (Baden & Steward, 2000, p. 309).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This model assesses the degrees to which adoptees "have knowledge of, awareness of, competence within, and comfort with their own racial group's culture, their parents' racial group's culture, and multiple cultures as well as the degree to which they are comfortable with their racial group membership and with those belonging to their own racial group, their parents' racial group, and multiple racial groups" (Baden & Steward, 2000, p. 309). In addition, this model takes into consideration the roles and influences of adoptive parents, extended family members and social and environmental contexts on cultural and racial identity development among transracial adoptees (Baden & Steward, 2000). In addition to the clinical implications of developing a comprehensive understanding of the complexities surrounding identity development among transracial adoptees, there is also a growing body of evidence that suggests adoptees, whether they are inracially, transracially, or internationally adopted, experience emotional and psychological difficulties related to the trauma and loss associated with their adoption (Berlin, 1978;Brodzinsky, et al, 1992;Lifton, 1998Lifton, , 2003Locust, 1999Locust, , 2000Patton, 2000;Peterson, 2002;Simon & Hernandez, 2008;Trenka, Oparah, & Shin, 2006).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Developing One's Self: Adoption and Identity Formation Through the Eyes of Transracially Adopted Native American Adults

Becker-Green¹

2000

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Life story methods were used to explore the contextual factors that influenced the experiences and identity formation of seven Native American adults who were transracially adopted prior to the passage of the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978.These methods provided a deeper understanding of how these individuals have integrated their adoption experiences into their evolving sense of self. The life story methodology offered a way to acknowledge and validate participants' life experiences and allowed for the collection of rich information from the perspectives of the adoptees.The life story interviews were structured to gather information on the influence of one's adoptive family and cultural, social, and educational experiences on particpants' developing sense of self. Even though an interview guide was developed for use in the study, each story uniquely unfolded in a manner the participant was comfortable sharing.The study examined the life stories for patterns or emerging themes related to identity development at different points in the narrators' life cycles in order to develop an aggregate account of the contextual factors influencing identity formation as well as a collective understanding of sense of self. The study identified 12 contextual factors that have both positively and negatively influenced identity development among the participants throughout their lifespan. These factors are: 1) adoptive family;2) community; 3) educational experiences; 4) religion/spirituality; 5) travel; 6) exposure to cultural experiences; 7) employment; 8) friendships; 9) peer groups; 10) military; 11) societal messages, and 12) reconnection to tribal heritage. Overall, findings from this study suggest that the majority of participants have developed strong Native American, multi-cultural, and/or bi-cultural identities that incorporate their various experiences as transracial adoptees.

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A Framework for Use with Racially and Culturally Integrated Families: The Cultural-Racial Identity Model as Applied to Transracial Adoption

Cited by 53 publications

References 20 publications

‘Doing the right thing’: transracial adoption in the USA

‘Doing the right thing’: transracial adoption in the USA

The Role of Heritage Camps in Identity Development Among Korean Transnational Adoptees: A Relational Dialectics Approach

Developing One's Self: Adoption and Identity Formation Through the Eyes of Transracially Adopted Native American Adults

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