Event Title
Adoptive couples’ reasons for choosing open adoption: Perspectives of lesbian, gay, and heterosexual couples
Start Date
7-4-2010 4:00 PM
End Date
7-4-2010 5:30 PM
Description
The current study entails a qualitative analysis of 45 same-sex and heterosexual prospective adoptive couples (15 gay male couples, 15 lesbian couples, 15 heterosexual couples) in order to elucidate couples’ reasons for deciding to pursue open adoption. Much of the existing research on open adoption has focused on the perceived benefits of open adoption from the perspectives of adoption agencies (Henney, McRoy, Ayers-Lopez, & Grotevant, 2003), birth parents (McRoy, Grotevant, & White, 1988), adoptive parents (Siegel, 1993), and adopted children (Gross, 1993; Grotevant et al., 2008) as well as perceived challenges in adoptivebirthparent relationships (McRoy et al., 1988; Siegel, 1993) and changes in openness arrangements over time (Berry, Cavazos Dylla, Barth, & Needell, 1998). However, little research has examined, prospectively, why adoptive couples choose open adoption (e.g., Downing, Richardson, Kinkler, & Goldberg, 2009). Furthermore, no research has examined reasons for choosing open adoption among lesbian and gay male prospective adoptive parents. Same-sex couples may be particularly attracted to open adoption because it allows them to authentically represent themselves as a couple (as opposed to having to “closet” their relationship for other types of adoption) (Downing et al., 2009; Goldberg, Downing, Sauck, 2007). The current study examines the perspectives of lesbian, gay male, and heterosexual couples in choosing open adoption. Of particular interest is whether same-sex couples provide different types of reasons than heterosexual couples, given that they may have unique preferences and needs as a result of their sexual minority status.
Findings suggest that although heterosexual and same-sex couples share many of the same desires in choosing open adoption, same-sex couples may have unique concerns that shape their decision to choose open adoption. One of the most prominent reasons cited by all types of couples was that open adoption was in the best interest of the child; it allowed adopted children to “know where they come from” and have ongoing contact with birth family members. Thus, many couples opted for an open adoption because they believed that it would foster their child’s psychosocial and identity development. In addition, many couples specified that open adoption was in the best interest of all members of the adoption triad, encouraging a positive experience for birth parents, adoptive parents, and adopted children. Many couples emphasized that open adoption was in the best interest of the adoptive parents. For gay and lesbian couples in particular, open adoption allowed them to openly disclose their sexual orientation. For heterosexual couples, open adoption was perceived to be the most practical option (e.g., it was the “most common” adoption type). A theme specific to gay male couples was that because it would already be “obvious” that their child was not biologically theirs (insomuch as two men could not produce a child), they appreciated the transparency inherent in open adoption. Findings suggest that despite overlapping explanations amongst all couples, sexual orientation and gender uniquely shape the decision-making process for choosing the open adoption route.
Adoptive couples’ reasons for choosing open adoption: Perspectives of lesbian, gay, and heterosexual couples
The current study entails a qualitative analysis of 45 same-sex and heterosexual prospective adoptive couples (15 gay male couples, 15 lesbian couples, 15 heterosexual couples) in order to elucidate couples’ reasons for deciding to pursue open adoption. Much of the existing research on open adoption has focused on the perceived benefits of open adoption from the perspectives of adoption agencies (Henney, McRoy, Ayers-Lopez, & Grotevant, 2003), birth parents (McRoy, Grotevant, & White, 1988), adoptive parents (Siegel, 1993), and adopted children (Gross, 1993; Grotevant et al., 2008) as well as perceived challenges in adoptivebirthparent relationships (McRoy et al., 1988; Siegel, 1993) and changes in openness arrangements over time (Berry, Cavazos Dylla, Barth, & Needell, 1998). However, little research has examined, prospectively, why adoptive couples choose open adoption (e.g., Downing, Richardson, Kinkler, & Goldberg, 2009). Furthermore, no research has examined reasons for choosing open adoption among lesbian and gay male prospective adoptive parents. Same-sex couples may be particularly attracted to open adoption because it allows them to authentically represent themselves as a couple (as opposed to having to “closet” their relationship for other types of adoption) (Downing et al., 2009; Goldberg, Downing, Sauck, 2007). The current study examines the perspectives of lesbian, gay male, and heterosexual couples in choosing open adoption. Of particular interest is whether same-sex couples provide different types of reasons than heterosexual couples, given that they may have unique preferences and needs as a result of their sexual minority status.
Findings suggest that although heterosexual and same-sex couples share many of the same desires in choosing open adoption, same-sex couples may have unique concerns that shape their decision to choose open adoption. One of the most prominent reasons cited by all types of couples was that open adoption was in the best interest of the child; it allowed adopted children to “know where they come from” and have ongoing contact with birth family members. Thus, many couples opted for an open adoption because they believed that it would foster their child’s psychosocial and identity development. In addition, many couples specified that open adoption was in the best interest of all members of the adoption triad, encouraging a positive experience for birth parents, adoptive parents, and adopted children. Many couples emphasized that open adoption was in the best interest of the adoptive parents. For gay and lesbian couples in particular, open adoption allowed them to openly disclose their sexual orientation. For heterosexual couples, open adoption was perceived to be the most practical option (e.g., it was the “most common” adoption type). A theme specific to gay male couples was that because it would already be “obvious” that their child was not biologically theirs (insomuch as two men could not produce a child), they appreciated the transparency inherent in open adoption. Findings suggest that despite overlapping explanations amongst all couples, sexual orientation and gender uniquely shape the decision-making process for choosing the open adoption route.