Conclusion: Re-Kinning First Mothers

Intercountry adoption and the social production of abandonment

“…Its affluence is created in part from holding the South back (Castles, 2003: 18; Pratt, 2002: 29). The Global North and the adopting nations are thus implicated in the maintaining of material disparities in the South and the countries of origin, which is in the background of most adoptions (Bos, 2007; Fonseca, 2011; Giberti, 2000; Högbacka, 2016; Roby and Matsumura, 2002). Material poverty is then used as a justification for adoption (see Smolin, 2007a: 36–37).…”

“…The exclusive family model of the Global North localises proper care within the domesticity of one set of parents and their children, always staying together in the parental home. The inclusive model prevalent in the South is characterised by a more varied set of carers and places of care, including kin care and temporary separations between parent(s) and children (see Högbacka, 2016). Informal kinship care, which does not entail a permanent separation between parents and children, is also widespread in South Africa (Hall et al, 2014: 92).…”

“…In what ways does the adoption system contribute to the formation of the pool of abandoned children? I draw on interviews with South African adoption social workers and birth mothers from my larger study on inequality and transnational adoption (Högbacka, 2016). I will specifically utilise the interviews I conducted with 10 adoption social workers and 35 birth mothers in four locations in South Africa during 2006–2009.…”

“…When such family notions are applied in the different contexts of the Global South, many children appear to lack family care. The different family structures in the South may involve extended rather than nuclear family forms as well as temporary separations between mothers and their children, during which the children are taken care of by grandparents or other kin (see Högbacka, 2016). Temporary foster care or care by kin, which could lead to the reunification of the child with the family of origin at a later stage, is left out of the Global North type of family ideal, and permanent separation in the form of adoption is applied (see King, 2009 [2008]: 444–50; Yngvesson 2010).…”

“…Adoption is even depicted as ‘saving’ these abandoned children, who are seen as languishing in institutions (Varnis, 2001). In reality, children’s homes may be used by birth mothers as temporary safe places for children while the mothers try to find jobs or otherwise seek to improve their material situations (Högbacka, 2016).…”