Also called interracial adoption, transracial adoption has long been a controversial issue, especially among avid adoption advocates. Remember that adoption is a lifelong commitment that can affect your entire family, especially for the adopted child, so it is important to look past the adorable faces and think through its pros and cons.
List of Pros of Transracial Adoption
1. It allows for higher availability of children.
By taking a look at the statistics surrounding children who were adopted in different countries, non-Hispanic white children are adopted 50% of the time whereas it is 38% for interracial children. There is a significantly higher demand for Caucasian children compared to those of Asian, Hispanic and black heritage, making it easier for you to find the right child for your home. This is beneficial for many reasons, including cost and the amount of time it takes for you to get the child you have always wanted.
2. It lets you understand and embrace diversity.
When you adopt a child outside of your own race, you are giving the child and yourself the chance to understand embrace diversity. Racism and prejudice have become prevalent in today’s society, and doing this is a great way to show children that love holds no bounds and that every person can be accepted regardless of his skin color. It can also be a moving experience for you, as a parent, as you will be able to learn that every child gets the same amount of affection no matter how different he may look.
3. It creates inspiration in the way of festivities.
A child who has access to knowledge of different festivities from various cultures is more likely to become interested and inspired in learning more about other cultures. As the adoptive parent, you need to help him assimilate into your culture, while you assimilate into his as well.
List of Cons of Transracial Adoption
1. It may cause a struggle with family acceptance.
One big issue you would face with transracial adoption is gathering acceptance from your family members and friends, who would see it as a poor decision or simply do not understand why you adopted a child from another culture. Take note that older generations were taught about staying within your own race, as different cultures did not go along nicely during their era.
2. It brings about the idea of assimilation.
The main concern you would have as an adoptive parent is whether the child will have difficulties with assimilating into your family unit or not. This process will be simple if you adopt him young, but as he gets older, it is another story as he gets curious. As he grows, answer his questions about the adoption process and help him understand the idea, as well as how it made your lives better.
3. It sometimes reveals an obvious reason.
Depending on your personality, the idea adoption being obvious can either be seen by other people as a favor or a disadvantage. On the positive side, you do not need to explain where the child came from or wonder whether you should tell your family that you are pregnant. For those who see it as a negative aspect, you will stand out more than other families when engage in activities out in the public. Unfortunately, the world tends to be color-blind society, where you may have other people staring at you or asking about your child.
Conclusion
Transracial adoption is a common practice for families around the world, but it is important to consider its pros and cons before deciding to make a final decision. Though there have been requirements that were removed pertaining to the racial, linguistic and cultural background of children, similarities in culture are still essential for prospective parents.