Korean transracial adoptee identity formation

Abstract

Despite nearly half a million transnational adoptions to the United States, most of which are also transracial, sociological research has given little attention to this phenomenon. This review demonstrates why more sociological attention on Korean transnational adoption in particular is warranted. I review one area with overwhelming sociological significance—identity formation, including the distinct dimensions of racial, ethnic, and adoptive identities. While the bulk of this research has taken place outside of sociology, in reviewing the findings, I argue the sociological significance of Korean transnational transracial adoption to examinations of race, racialization, and identity formation.

The Complexities of Mixed Families: Transracial Adoption as a Humanitarian Project

“…Historically, academic work on transracial adoption within the United States context has stemmed from a psychological or clinical perspective, lacking a sociological lens to investigate transracial families (Laybourn 2017). Among the sociological research that has explored transracial adoption, scholars have documented attitudes toward transracial adoption (Perry 2010(Perry , 2011, the racial socialization of transracial adoptees (Barn 2018;Butler-Sweet 2011;Sweeney 2017), and the ways in which transracial families understand and even appropriate racial identities (Goss et al 2017;Laybourn and Goar 2021).…”

“I Don't Really Look Very Asian”: Transracially and Transnationally Adopted Asian Youth in Rural Appalachia

“…These effects include but are not limited to the emotional, physical, and psychological effects. These effects can manifest through a variety of ways including attachment disorders which can include depression, trust issues, suicide, social rejection, inability to assert themselves particularly in racially charged situations (both overt and covert), abandonment issues, and poor self-esteem (Callahan, 2011;Langrehr et al, 2015;Laybourn, 2017;Wood, 2009). Many of these can be carried over into adulthood and result in the inability to create stable, lasting relationships (Javier, et al, 2007;Kiang, Tseng, & Yip, 2016).…”