I AM ADOPTED.

The worst part of being adopted is being told that people are “sorry” for me. I

have never understood why adoption became a stigma in so many eyes. Sure, adopted

children have issues, but those issues often pale in comparison to the problems they may

have faced growing up without necessities. I understand that not everyone has a great

adoption story, but on the other hand not everyone had a great story about growing up

with their biological parents. I want to raise awareness of the bright side of adoption

because I think more children deserve the childhood that I had. My parents were far from

perfect, but I can’t imagine a better life for myself. Specifically I am targeting the women

who have very little, are pregnant, and can’t give a child the things it needs to grow up

happily.

RESEARCHING.

Adoption is a very personal matter, and because of this I will be not only

interviewing the people that will be in my film but others who may not want to be a part

of the project or live too far away. There is such a wide range of stories people have

regarding their adoption. I have composed a list of questions that I am interested in

finding out and that I think will illustrate their story in a concise manner. Additionally, I

want to conduct more formal research by reading objective articles and studies that touch

on the psychology of adoption and the effects it can have on people affected by it. There

are an endless number of websites with resources on adoption, which include adoption

forums, facts, psychology of adoption, legality and politics of adoption, etc. There are

also many scholarly articles that speak on the psychology of adoption and studies on

adoptees and foster kids.

Besides the subject matter, I need to become more familiar with filming. I need to

learn about how to properly light a subject and how to get the best audio recording. I will

be editing the film with Final Cut Pro, which I have never used but have been assured is

simple because I am well versed in After Effects (which I will also be using for title

sequences).

PRECEDENTS.

There have been many books written on the value of adoption; videos filmed,

documentaries, poetry written, and vlogs filmed. I regret that a lot of these methods

utilize sappy sentimental music or completely subjective and biased subjects to tell a

story. I want my project to be sentimental and subjective, however I aim to make the

issue a reality. Not everyone knows an adoptee or someone willing to talk about it, this

project will hopefully envelope the viewer in a feeling that they are having a conversation

with the interviewee. Also, being a visual person, videos that are aesthetically pleasing

grab my attention and hold it for longer, and I’d like to create something that you may

start watching because it looks good, but you end up taking away some knowledge from.

Above are two videos I found that tackle adoption stories. Neither really go into

the feelings of the adoptee, but convey a positive message. Both videos let the

interviewees talk for a minute or so about their stories, but again you don’t get a sense of

their full story, just chunks of it.

METHODOLOGY.

I originally wanted to design and publish a book for my thesis centerpiece that

could be housed in adoption agencies or fertility clinics to inform expectant mothers that

they have an option and educate women trying to reproduce that there are other options.

Accompanying this would be a website with the same stories from the book and a video

that would be on the main page of the site. Recently, however, I’ve realized that

something of this size can only reach so many people, and I want to touch as many

people with this project as I possibly can. I have instead decided to rearrange the pieces

of my thesis and make the video the focal point to my thesis. Living in the age of the

internet, videos have a potential to go viral and therefore reach more people. The

audience I’m targeting is also less likely to take the time to sit down and read something

if they aren’t interested in it, but would likely be more willing to watch a video or at least

part of one. Seeing the people’s faces and hearing their voices will, I believe, have a

greater impact on people than just reading words on a page. I want to keep the website, so

that the video has a stronger presence online than just being on youtube, and so that

people can read more about it if they desire. The final piece of my project, the physical

piece, I’ve decided to change to a booklet or pamphlet, something small, short and to the

point. This will be a condensed version of the film and website, something that can be

given out in places like abortion or fertility clinics. I think women are more likely to pick

up and take something smaller that will fit in a purse than a dense book.

The issue of adoption can be linked to a wide variety of topics. The first would be

the people directly affected by it. Birth parents, who cannot support a child financially or

are not mentally or emotionally prepared to do so are often deeply and emotionally

affected by giving up a child. These are often young people, even teenagers. While some

do decide to raise the child on their own, they are often later deemed unfit parents and the

child is placed into foster care or adopted late in life, which frequently leads to antisocial

behavior. Adoptive children are dramatically affected by this. Whether it is an open or

closed adoption, inter-racial, biracial, cooperative, de-facto, domestic, international, etc.

adoptees always have some sort of emotional problems. Many experience a fear of

abandonment, or fear of love because they feel rejected by their birth parents when this is

not always the case. They may also develop RAD or Reactive Attachment Disorder,

which is the result of a lack of consistent nurturing and care early on and leads to the

inability to establish age-appropriate social contact. A positive effect of adoption on a

child is altruistic behavior. Many adoptees seem to almost innately feel a selflessness and

thankfulness, which may be a facet of their fear of abandonment. Adoptive parents must

go through a process to adopt, which includes letters of recommendation, a home study,

interviews, and background checks to prove that the family can provide for the child.

Adoptive parents in most cases must prove to be financially stable before they adopt,

unlike the birth parent. Politics also plays a big role in adoption. Because abortion is

frequently closely associated with adoption, the beliefs of pro choice, a liberal

Democratic ideal, and pro life, a conservative Republican view, come into play. Religious

and cultural values also play a role in having the child vs. aborting it.

GLOSSARY Abandonment fear- A common issue for adoptees. If their birthmother did not want them,

why would anyone else? Many adoptees blame themselves and think something is wrong

with them.

Abortion- Deliberate termination of human pregnancy, most often performed during first 28

weeks.

Adoptee- Someone who is adopted

Adoption- The legal and emotional acceptance into your family of a child not born to you

Adoptive Parent- People seeking to adopt or who have already adopted

Adult Adoption- Adoption after the adoptee is over the age of majority

Altruism- The belief or practice of disinterested and selfless concern for the well being of

others.

Anti-social behavior- Actions that deviate from the social norm, often cause by the social

environment a child grows up in.

Attachment- The formation by a child of a significant and stable emotional connection with

significant people in its life. This process begins early in infancy.

Birth name- Name given to child at birth, often changed by adoptive parent.

Birth parent or “biological parent”- Parent that a child shares DNA with

Child abuse- Any physical, sexual, emotional, or any other maltreatment or exploitation of a

child

Child neglect- Any recent act or failure to act that results in endangerment or death of a

child.

Closed adoption- Most traditional type of adoption, but declining in popularity. This type of

adoption ensures complete confidentiality; birth and adoptive families share no identifying

information.

Confidential Intermediary- A position created under the provisions of adoption laws in

some states which refers to an individual who acts on behalf of the adoptive parent, birth

parent, or child to make contact with other members of adoption, whose identity cannot be

legally established or determined.

Cooperative adoption- Arrangements that allow some kind of contact between birth and

adoptive families.

Democrat- Advocate or supporter of democracy.

Disclosed adoption- Any adoption where one of birth parents is involved in process of

selecting the adoptive parents.

DNA testing- Cheek cells removed to find out if a parent and child share the same DNA.

Domestic adoption- Adoption within your own country.

Finalization hearing- In court, the hearing that finalizes an adoption.

Foster-adoption- Child placement in which birth parents’ rights have not been severed by

the court or are appealing the courts decision, but foster parents agree to adopt the child

if/when parental rights are determined.

Foster care- Placing a child in temporary care of a family other than its own as result of

problems or challenges taking place within the birth family.

Foster children- Children that are in legal guardianship or custody of a state, county, or

private adoption or foster care agency, but are cared for by foster parents in their own homes.

Foster parent- Generally refers to adults who are licensed by the state or county to provide a

temporary home for children whose birth parents are unable to care for them.

Genealogy- The study of the history of past and present members of a particular family.

Group home- Alternative to traditional in home foster care for children, in which children

are housed in an intimate or home-like setting, in which a number of unrelated children live

for varying periods of time with a single set of house parents or rotating staff.

Home study or “adoption study”- A written report by social worker containing the findings

of meeting several times with hopeful adoptive parents, visiting their home and investigating

their background.

Identified adoption- The birth mother selects family to adopt her child.

Identifying information- Information about birth or adoptive parents or an adoptee that

could lead to finding each other. (First or last names, addresses, numbers, SSN, birth date)

Independent adoption- Adoptions arranged by intermediary rather than an agency.

Infant adoption- Adoption of an infant.

Infertility- Inability to conceive or bear children by natural means.

Institutionalization- Short or long-term placement of children in institutions, such as

hospitals, group homes, or orphanages. Placement in these places is often associated with

developmental delays due to environmental deprivation, poor staff to child ratios, or lack of

early childhood stimulation.

Irrevocable consent- Describes a consent to adoption that has been signed by the birth

parent, which under state law cannot be revoked after signed.

Liberal- Open to new behavior or opinions, willing to discard traditional values.

Open adoption- Relationships can vary based on type of relationship birth and adoptive

parents have agreed to. In some open adoptions there is ongoing communication.

Original birth certificate- The birth certificate issued at child’s birth. This is changed to a

new name and parent names when adoption is finalized.

Parent profile- Basically a document that gives background and current information about a

prospective adoptive parent. It is intended to help the birth parents select the right family.

Petition to adopt- The document filed with the court on your behalf to start the adoption

process. It states the legal reasons you think you should be able to adopt a child, why the

court has jurisdiction to grant the adoption, your qualifications to adopt, and the name you

want to give the child when the adoption becomes final.

Placement date- The time at which the child comes to live with the adopting parents.

Presumed father- The man that the law presumes, until otherwise proven, is the biological

father.

Private adoption agency- Licensed agencies can have a non-profit, not for profit, or for

profit legal and tax status, and can be either general in scope or focus on a certain type of

adoption.

Pro choice- The belief that it is a woman’s choice whether or not to abort a pregnancy.

Pro life- The belief that abortion should be illegal.

Psychological parent- A person whom a child considers to be his or her parent even though

that person may not be biologically related.

Public adoption agency- Term refers to a broad group of state and county adoption agencies

that bear a wide variety of names: Dept. of social services, Dept. Of Children and Family

Services, etc. These agencies are responsible for placing waiting children from foster care

into adoptive families.

Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD)- The result of a lack of consistent nurturing and care

early on and leads to the inability to establish age-appropriate social contact.

Sealed adoption records- Original birth certificate, records of court proceedings, agency

reports, and other documents sealed to protect the confidentiality of parties involved.

Search angel- Adoption search volunteer willing to work with adoptees and birth families

for family reunions.

Semi open adoption- Combination of traditional closed adoption with more progressive

open adoption. The emphasis is on privacy of all parties rather than confidentiality.

Social worker- Someone employed to provide social services (esp. to disadvantaged)

Teenage pregnancy- Teenage or underage girl (13-19) becoming pregnant.

Traditional adoption- Term used to refer to a domestic infant adoption in which

confidentiality of the birthparents and adoptive parents is preserved.

Voluntary reunion (or adoption) registry- Totally voluntary registry system which allows

adoptees, birthparents and biological siblings to register themselves so that the other party

may find them if interested.

Waiting children- Generally refers to non-infant, school age children who have become

legally available for adoption. They will be under legal jurisdiction and care of public foster

care agencies.

REFERENCES.

Child Welfare Information Gateway. “The Adoption Home Study Process.” http://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/f_homstu.cfm (2010). Accessed October 9, 2012

Adoption.com. “Adoption Glossary.” Glossary.Adoption.com.

Accessed October 10, 2012