White Adoptive Parents of Children From China, Microaggressions, and Parental Awareness of Bias

In this study, we explored racial microaggressions (RMAs) and adoption microaggressions (AMAs) experienced and committed by white adoptive parents of transracial adoptees. Two research questions guided this inquiry: (a) What types of RMAs and AMAs do white adoptive parents of children adopted from C...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of family psychology 2024-06, Vol.38 (4), p.582-594
Main Authors: Baden, Amanda L., Sharma, Sunanda M., Harrington, Elliotte S., White, Ebony E., Zhang, Xian, Pinderhughes, Ellen E.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adopted children
Adoptees
Adoption
Adoptive Parents
Awareness
Biology
Commitment
Female
Human
Male
Microaggressions
Natural parents
Parents & parenting
Race
Racial Microaggression
Transracial
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Summary:In this study, we explored racial microaggressions (RMAs) and adoption microaggressions (AMAs) experienced and committed by white adoptive parents of transracial adoptees. Two research questions guided this inquiry: (a) What types of RMAs and AMAs do white adoptive parents of children adopted from China experience and commit? and (b) how is white adoptive parental awareness of race and adoption related to their committing of microaggressions? Based on qualitative coding of interviews conducted with 39 white adoptive parents of Chinese adoptees, the most frequently coded AMA was Biology is Best for experienced AMAs and Phantom Birth Parents for committed AMAs. Alien in Own Land was the most experienced RMA, and Color Evasiveness was the most committed RMA. Parents tended to have high awareness of the AMAs (87%) and RMAs (89%) they experienced from others, yet this awareness did not preclude them from committing RMAs and AMAs within their transracially adoptive family.
ISSN:0893-3200
1939-1293
1939-1293
DOI:10.1037/fam0001217