In the best interests of the child : culture, identity, and transracial adoption / edited by Ivor Gaber and Jane Aldridge.

Contributor(s):

Material type: Text

TextPublication details: London : Free Association Books, 1994.ISBN:

1853431524

Subject(s):

LOC classification:

HV875.7.G7

Contents:

Foreword / Paul Gilroy -- Introduction / Ivor Gaber and Jane Aldridge -- 1. 'Gloria's Story' / Gloria Betts -- 2. Transracial Placements in Britain: a History / Ivor Gaber -- 3. Yesterday's Words, Tomorrow's World: from the Racialisation of Adoption to the Politics of Difference / Phil Cohen -- 4. What Is Identity? / Barry Richards -- 5. Black Identity and Transracial Adoption / Barbara Tizard and Ann Phoenix -- 6. Attachment / Susan Golombok -- 7. The Law and Transracial Families / Jennifer Craven-Griffiths -- 8. Transracial Adoption: the American Experience / Rita J. Simon -- 9. Race Matching in Adoption: an American Perspective / Elizabeth Bartholet -- In the Best Interests of the Child / Jane Aldridge.

Summary: In the Best Interests of the Child is a controversial book. It is the first to undertake a sustained examination of the highly charged issue of transracial adoption - the placing of babies and children for adoption with parents of a different ethnic background. For the past decade this issue has provided a potent symbol for those who have argued that transracial adoption represents a form of 'genocide'. White people, it has been claimed, were 'stealing' black babies and many sought to ban the practice. As a consequence of these bans, the issue was taken up by those arguing against so-called 'political correctness', who have claimed that they represent one of the worst examples of political ideology being given precedence over the welfare of vulnerable children in care. In the Best Interests of the Child (a phrase that is at the heart of current legislation) puts these arguments into context. It examines the historical, cultural and political background of the claims and counter claims and examines the issue from the perspective of sociologists, psychologists and legal experts. It features an important section of evidence from the United States, from where much of the impetus to impose bans originated. There is a valuable appendix which, for the first time, brings together all the important policy statements and guidelines issued by the organizations central to this debate. The conclusion presents a series of proposals for handling transracial adoptions which, the editors believe, will be 'in the best interests of the child'.

Holdings ( 1 )
Title notes ( 4 )

Holdings
Item type	Home library	Call number	Status	Date due	Barcode	Item holds
Two Week Loan	College Lane Learning Resources Centre Main Shelves	362.734 INT (Browse shelf(Opens below))	Available		4404014126

Total holds: 0

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

In the Best Interests of the Child is a controversial book. It is the first to undertake a sustained examination of the highly charged issue of transracial adoption - the placing of babies and children for adoption with parents of a different ethnic background. For the past decade this issue has provided a potent symbol for those who have argued that transracial adoption represents a form of 'genocide'. White people, it has been claimed, were 'stealing' black babies and many sought to ban the practice. As a consequence of these bans, the issue was taken up by those arguing against so-called 'political correctness', who have claimed that they represent one of the worst examples of political ideology being given precedence over the welfare of vulnerable children in care. In the Best Interests of the Child (a phrase that is at the heart of current legislation) puts these arguments into context. It examines the historical, cultural and political background of the claims and counter claims and examines the issue from the perspective of sociologists, psychologists and legal experts. It features an important section of evidence from the United States, from where much of the impetus to impose bans originated. There is a valuable appendix which, for the first time, brings together all the important policy statements and guidelines issued by the organizations central to this debate. The conclusion presents a series of proposals for handling transracial adoptions which, the editors believe, will be 'in the best interests of the child'.