Residential Racial Diversity: Are Transracial Adoptive Families More Like Multiracial or White Families?*

Abstract

Objective. The purpose of this article is to examine whether and how the residential racial diversity of transracially adopted children (i.e., nonwhite children adopted by white parents) varies from those of biological children in white monoracial families and biological children in mixed-race families. Method. Using the restricted access 2009 American Community Survey, we take advantage of the large number of adoptive families not only to investigate differences among these families, but also to explore whether racial socialization within transracial adoptive families varies by the race and nativity of the child. Results. We show that the context of racial socialization for transracially adopted children is more similar to that of white children in monoracial families than that of children in mixed race families. Conclusion. This article adds a quantitative, nationally representative picture of the context of racial socialization for specific groups of transracially adopted children, complementing existing research published in this area.

Associations between discussions of racial and ethnic differences in internationally adoptive families and delinquent behavior among Korean adopted adolescents

“…Another possibility is adopted adolescents may not yet have reached a developmental stage where racial and ethnic differences are salient experiences. Most adopted adolescents live in White communities where pressures may exist to de-emphasize racial and ethnic differences (Krieder & Raleigh, 2011). Some adoptees may not begin exploring the importance of their racial and ethnic differences until they have left their communities of origin (Hubinette & Tigervall, 2009).…”

“…Today, 59% of internationally adopted children are from Asian countries (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, 2013), with more than 105,000 Asian adopted children living in U.S. households with White parents in 2009 (Krieder & Raleigh, 2011). More than 80% of international adoptions are considered transracial with White parents and children who are racial and ethnic minorities in the United States (U.S.…”

“…Importantly, cultural socialization is more complicated in international, transracial adoptive families, because ethnic minority children are adopted into predominantly White families (Krieder & Raleigh, 2011). White adoptive parents are more likely to have limited knowledge of the child’s birth culture and less first-hand experience with discrimination (Lee, 2003).…”

How White Parents of Black and Multiracial Transracially Adopted Children Approach Racial Exposure and Neighborhood Choice

“…Past research has found that transracial adoptees were less likely to feel uneasy about their appearance and have fewer adjustment issues when living in communities that were not predominantly white (Feigelman 2000). Research also indicates that transracial adoptees with white parents tend to live in communities with less racial-ethnic diversity compared with children of interracial couples (Kreider and Raleigh 2011). The choices that adoptive parents make as they socialize children have consequences for adoptee identity, attitudes, and experiences (Freundlich 2000; Grotevant et al 2000; Huh and Reid 2000; McGinnis et al 2009; McHale et al 2006; Samuels 2009).…”

“…Similar to the concept of culture keeping, racial socialization consists of demonstrating behaviors to navigate race, providing opportunities for interaction, and introducing environments, objects, and ideas (Thorton et al 1990 as cited by Brown 2008:33). Both racial socialization practices and child outcomes are shaped by neighborhood context, illustrating the importance of neighborhood choice and composition in conjunction with racial socialization (Caughy et al 2006; Kreider and Raleigh 2011). The present study builds on this premise to ask how white adoptive parents explain decisions of where to send their transracially adopted children to school, whom to befriend, and neighborhood choice.…”