Who Places a Child for Adoption?

Some of these facts and figures might surprise you.

One study at a residential facility for pregnant teens found that a disproportionate number of those who relinquished were from upper-middle-class families, living in the suburbs or small cities, and from intact families with highly educated parents (Moore & Davidson, 2002).

Wait, middle-class families? Oops, there goes another birth parent stereotype down the drain. Hmmm, what about the idea that birth parents mostly come from troubled families and broken homes? Does anyone else hate that term “broken homes”?

Some single and/or divorced parents are superb parents, yet after a divorce a home is called “broken.” Aren’t some homes in worse shape when the two parents are bitterly fighting the majority of the time? I am very much in favor of two parent families, but I know that single parents can sometimes be better than two battling married parents.

Highly educated? Are none of those stereotypes going to be valid? Some of the stereotypes will fit some birth parents. Some adoptive parents have birth parents in their lives who do fit the mold. However, birth parents run the gamut.

The fact is that placing a child for adoption is not strictly an act that affects only one class of people. Poor people relinquish, as do wealthy people. Trying to assume anything about birth parents and lump us all together just does not work.

Our society is so materialistic these days that I wonder how often when considering whether to parent or not, that issue is a significant factor. It makes some sense that many upper middle class mothers might now place babies for adoption believing that their children need and deserve all that money can buy. If you read some adoption agency websites, some go into great detail about how expensive raising a child can be. However, it does not require great wealth to parent well.

Further Reading:

Where do I start?

Questions to Consider Before Making a Birth Plan.

Photo by Dan Baker 2005 (See the tiny yellow speck in this photo? That is me, paragliding in Switzerland.)

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