Choosing Interracial Adoption as a Birth Mother
As a birth mother, you may be evaluating a surplus of adoptive parent profiles, trying to determine which couple or individual would make the perfect adoptive family for your child. Some of these hopeful parents may look like you, but others may be of a different race.
Transracial or interracial adoption is when a birth mother places her baby for adoption with an adoptive family who is of a different race. For instance, when a white birth mother chooses an adoptive family of color, and vice versa. Interrracial adoption has become popular in recent years, and you may be wondering if interracial adoption is a good fit for you. Here are three things to consider when choosing interracial adoption as a birth mother.
1) How Important is the Adoptive Parents’ Race to You?
Different birth mothers will have different attitudes regarding interracial adoption. For example, if a woman grew up in a multicultural home, finding a similar family for her child might be important to her. She might want her child to have a similar experience growing up surrounded by people of different races and backgrounds.
Other birth mothers, however, might want their children to grow up with families of the same race. They may believe the adoptive families won’t understand or relate to the children if they are of a different race. (Example: If a white couple is seeking to adopt a black baby, will they be able to understand and help the child as he or she grows up?)
Skin color and race might not matter to some birth mothers. If they like the adoptive parents because they have similar values and interests, that might be enough.
When going through your adoption plan, you’ll have to decide how important the adoptive parents’ race is to you.
2) How will the Adoptive Parents Handle Raising a Child of a Different Race?
Depending on the type of adoption, birth mothers can meet the adoptive parents and ask them any questions they want. If the adoptive parents you’re meeting with are of a different race, you can ask them how they plan to approach raising a child of a different race. Are they prepared for the challenges they may face as the child grows up?
The adoptive parents may be judged by people outside their family, and people inside their family may not be completely accepting. You can ask them how their family members would react to their decision to adopt a baby of a different race. You can also ask them how they’ll respond to potential criticism.
As the birth mother, you can give the adoptive parents advice on how to integrate the child’s culture into their family.
3) How will Interracial Adoption Affect Your Child as He/She Grows Up?
Birth mothers may wonder how interracial adoption will affect their children. They know their children – like the adoptive parents – may face judgement from those outside the family. The child may struggle with his or her identity and search for people who look more like him or her.
On the other hand, interracial adoption may help the child grow into a more loving and accepting person. Starting at a young age, he or she may appreciate diversity and feel compassion for those who are different.
Choosing Interracial Adoption as a Birth Mother
As the birth mother, you’ll have the final say in who your child will grow up with. You’ll have to decide if interracial adoption is what you want to pursue.
If a couple or individual is willing to adopt your child regardless of race, that can help you determine what type of people they are. You can see how genuine their desire to choose adoption is, and you see that they are not discriminatory. You can see how loving and accepting they are.
If you think interracial adoption is a plausible option for you, Adoption Choices of Oklahoma will be here to help you through whatever challenges may come.
Adoption Choices of Oklahoma is a private adoption agency, licensed by the state of Oklahoma and leader in the adoption community. We have been assisting birth parents, children, and adoptive families in Oklahoma for over 19 years. Our staff members are committed to providing an ethical, empowering, and personalized adoption experience to all involved in the adoption process. If you are currently in the process of adopting a baby and have any questions or concerns, feel free to contact us.
Toll-free: 800-898-6028 | OKC Local: 405-755-1999 | Tulsa Local: 918-447-7777 | Text: 405-310-8790 | Email
Meet the Author: Heather Valenzano is an up-and-coming content creator with a bachelor’s degree in mass communications and a minor in English. After graduating from Iona College in 2019, she got an internship – and then a part-time job – writing blogs and managing social media accounts for Hip New Jersey, a lifestyle website owned by Long Shot Productions. She has also produced website and social media content for CommonPage, an external collaboration platform.
When she isn’t working, Heather enjoys watching crime shows like Forensic Files or posting book reviews to OnlineBookClub.org under the username “LavenderLiterature2.”
