Inhoudelijke terugblik INEA-congres 2024: dag 2

Reculturation & Searching for origins

The second day of our congress focused on the connection between science and care practice. The main theme was ‘reculturation & searching for origins’. Within this theme, the many ways were explored in which adoptees reclaimed elements of their birth culture.

Keynote presentation

In her presentation, Amanda Baden addressed the topic of reculturation, identity, and roots searching among transracial adoptees. Baden is a professor and program director in the Counseling Program at Montclair State University (NJ), and she is a licensed psychologist with a practice in New York City.

Baden argued that many transracial adoptees are forced to leave behind their birth cultures and languages and assimilate into new cultures. Later in life, these adoptees often feel the need to reconnect with their origins and reclaim their birth cultures to better understand themselves. Baden discussed why adoptees search, what they search for, and what they hope to find. She also focused on key research questions about how adoptees identify, what stands out most to them (race, adoption, or culture), and how they cope with adoption-related stigma. Baden emphasized the complexity of identity formation for adoptees, especially for transracial adoptees, who may face challenges such as reclaiming their birth culture, identity crisis, and difficulties adapting to the dominant adoption culture. She discussed the need for reculturation and how adoptees start this process themselves in late adolescence and adulthood, engaging in activities to reclaim their lost culture. Baden illustrated her points with a model of reculturation, describing various outcomes of trying to reconnect with their birth culture, such as the identification with their adoptive culture, reclaimed culture, bi-cultural, assimilated culture, and blended culture. She stressed that these outcomes are not normative but rather flexible and dependent on the individual experiences of adoptees. Finally, Baden emphasized how research on reculturation highlights the complex nature of identity exploration in adoptees and underscores its importance for their self-discovery and cultural reconnection.

Panel discussion

During the panel discussion, experts explored how transracial adoptees rediscover their roots and birth cultures, and the obstacles they may encounter in doing so. The panel, consisting of Patrick Noordoven, Amanda Baden, Hari Prasad Sacré, Lynelle Long, and Janice Reul, offered insights from various perspectives such as psychology, caregiving, rights, pedagogy, and linguistics.

Some panellists supported the idea that adult adoptees should take legal steps to prevent future harm. They emphasized the importance of sharing experiences and regaining control over their identity. Panellists agreed that adoptees have the right to search for their origins but also recognized the complexity and emotional impact of this process. They discussed the challenges of finding information and dealing with the expectations associated with reunion. Additionally, it was stated that adoptees do not have to search for their roots and birth culture. Adoptees are free to search for or not search for their biological parents and culture; one is not better or worse than the other.

The discussion further focused on the fear and expectations surrounding a potential reunion between adoptees and their biological parents. Language barriers and different desires of all parties involved were highlighted as complications. It provided insights into how adoptees can deal with the fear of rejection during the reunion process. Empathy and understanding of all parties involved were emphasized as essential for dealing with the complex emotions involved.

In conclusion, the workshops not only provided a profound understanding of the challenges faced by adoptees and their families but also called for a broader societal dialogue and action to promote justice, equality, and inclusion for all involved in the adoption process.

Closing session

In the plenary closing of the congress, Patrick Noordoven, legal expert, and adoptee, spoke about his personal journey and the challenges adoptees face in seeking their identity and rights. He shared his experiences with his legal battle against the state about his illegal adoption and the fight for the right to identity and access to origin information for adoptees. He talked about the misconceptions surrounding the right to have a child and start a family, emphasizing that this right does not exist from the child’s perspective. Patrick recalled his own search for his family, which took ten years before he found them. He shared his emotions and pain during the congress and advocated for more attention to the experiences of adoptees and the need for a legal framework that ensures specific responsibility and accountability of government agencies. He called for restructuring of the legal framework to resolve issues rather than create them and emphasized the importance of involving all stakeholders in intercountry adoption, including adoptees, adoptive parents, and biological parents. We thank Patrick once again for his powerful contribution.

Overall, the second day of the INEA congress marked a crucial step forward in promoting a holistic and inclusive approach to adoption counseling and research. By creating spaces for dialogue, reflection, and collaboration, significant strides were made in effectively addressing and supporting the needs of adoptees, biological parents, and adoptive families, while also striving for a more just and inclusive adoption practice.