Recognising Adoptee Relationships

Description

With a triadic perspective, this autoethnographic narrative explores the temporal, situated nature of interactions between the author as an adoptee with her adult adopted children as well as those between herself and her birth father and mother. The epiphanic adoptive family narratives that are foregrounded seek to deepen and challenge understanding of how kinship affinities are experienced. The autoethnographic narratives are written in a critical, evocative style which is valuable for two reasons. Firstly, the processes of reflexive self-introspection, self-observation and dialogue with relational others have established a critical connection between recognising and responding to kinship affinities and personal growth. Secondly, lying at the intersection of the self and other this narrative contributes to deepening insights around epistemic in/justice in adoptive kinship. This book will be of interest to educators and scholars of adoption in offering an insider perspective on unique family relationships as well as how the author undertakes critical evocative autoethnography. Adoptees, adoptive parents, and birth parents will also find the narratives in Part II of this book of particular interest in informing an understanding of kin relationships and how these may be subject to change over time. Cover Half Title Series Information Title Page Copyright Page Table of Contents Part I An Adoptee’s Critical Autoethnography 1 In-Between-Ness and Belonging Who Am I? My Aim For Adoptees and Adoptive Mothers Key Literature – Conceptual Framework Analytic, Critical, and Evocative Autoethnography Kinship Affinities Adoptive Family Research Themes After Kinship Subsequent Literature – Deepening the Conceptual Framework Adoption Literature Non-adoption Literature Auto – the Study of the Self, Through Personal Experience Ethno – How the Self Comprehends Cultural Links Graphy – the Application and Analysis of the Research Process Epiphanic Moments and Evocative Autoethnography Note References 2 Autoethnography Introduction Autoethnography Writing – the Approach and the Process Identifying Adoptive Family Experiences as Epiphanies When Did I Write? All My Senses Relational Ethics Tensions in Relational Ethics Ethics and Disclosure Conclusion References Part II Stories of Adoptive Kinship Introduction 3 ‘You’re Not My Real Mum!’ Introduction Epiphany 2009 Eight Years Later – Christmas Eve 2017 Themes Arising From Chapter 3 Adoption Microassaults and Disrecognition – ‘You’re Not My Real Mum’ Epistemic In/justice – Eight Years Later Future Research Epilogue References 4 Recognition as Love Introduction Do You Recognise Yourself in Me? It’s Quite Frightening But Really Exciting Not My Real Mother – Left the Planet Themes Arising From Chapter 4 Recognition – ‘Do You Recognise Yourself in Me?’ Relatedness – Intergenerational Recognition – Gender – ‘It’s Quite Frightening But Really Exciting’ Adoption Micro-Invalidation – Not My Real Mother – and Micro-Fiction – Left the Planet Future Research Note References 5 Darkest February Introduction ‘We Want You to Be Grandma’ ‘We Want the Adoption Documents’ Themes Arising From Chapter 5 Adoption Microassaults – ‘We Want You to Be Grandma’ Epistemic Trust, Gender, Homes – ‘We Want the Adoption Documents’ Future Research References 6 Five Years Later Introduction Five Years Later Themes Arising From Chapter 6 Sensory and Negotiated Affinities Future Research References 7 My Lineage Introduction Christmas 2009 Themes Arising From Chapter 7 Temporality and Resemblance Home as a Significant Material Place Future Research Epilogue – What Now? References Index