I’m not sure where to find a statistic or anything, but I think it’s generally true that in America, when people go to adopt a child, that most of them are looking to adopt a white baby, rather than one of another race.
What are the reasons that people prefer white babies to those of other races? I’m sure there are plenty. But let’s make a list, and try and figure out why, because there’s alot of other babies out there of different races that need homes too, and I want to find out about the ethics of putting them last in line.
Take this wherever you want as long as it’s relevant to this point.
The obvious reason, assuming the statement is true, would be that most people in the US are white, and probably an even greater majority of adoptive parents are white. That, and the fact the people are racist/narcissistic, would probably do it.
While I agree with you about this, I was hoping that more people would respond with bullshit reasons so that I could argue w/ them until it came out that they were racist and narcissisitic. Thanks alot man.
you know it is perfectly natural to prefer people of your own race, let alone your children. it is only ignoramuses who create genetic freak babies through miscegenation
If you’re talking about the babies that go into foster care, then the placement policy varies by state. One thing, there are a lot fewer non-white couples seeking to adopt in most states. I don’t think there’s one uniform policy, for some jurisdictions it’s first come, first served when placing infants (as long as the parents have been approved) and others may be more sensitive to same-race placements. Parents wanting to adopt are advised well ahead of time that if they want an infant of any race, they’re probably going to have to wait longer because there aren’t that many infants in the first place. They’re also advised to be flexible about the race, because there are a lot fewer white infants available than there are people requesting them. But of course no one is forced to take a child if they can’t deal with the different race. Because there are more white couples seeking to adopt than non-white couples, that’s where the race-selection issue comes in. I, for one, have no problem with a couple that insists on having a same-race baby, but they have to be prepared to wait longer (years longer) and/or go through private adoption and pay tens of thousands of dollars. There are some who choose that. I think that’s their right, even if I don’t understand the mentality. I have seen, very rarely, non-white (or mixed) couples take white babies and I’ve seen people adopt several children of different races. I think it’s different strokes for different folks. Where I live, there are so many interracial couples that I don’t notice it anymore. So biracial kids and racially mixed families are pretty common.
No, I don’t, but I adopted a couple of kids and did a lot of research and training when going through that long process…and I belong to an adoptive parent group through a large agency in my city; we meet and discuss such topics. I also subscribe to an adoption magazine, and a Net group for adoptive parents, although I’m not active in it, but read it occasionally. And I’ve discussed the topic with social workers that I know personally.
Dan~: I posted some stats on foster kids on the thread about gays adopting (I think it’s Smears’ too), but not on the ethnic make-up of the adoptive parent pool. As well, they don’t cover the whole adoption spectrum, which includes domestic and foreign private adoptions. My view on the parent pool is only anecdotal or from my memory of reading about there not being enough minority parents seeking to adopt and how some states are trying to increase their participation. But no doubt you can find the stats on the Net.
