Reviews tagging 'Racism'

Relinquished: The Politics of Adoption and the Privilege of American Motherhood by Gretchen Sisson

6 reviews

divduck's review against another edition

dark emotional informative sad

4.5

really appreciate the author shedding light on the neglected and outright pushed-aside stories of relinquishing mothers. her analysis of the sociological factors in adoption is top-notch. bringing a reproductive justice framework to the conversation around adoption as a (false) alternative to abortion is so crucial and yet not a focus of feminists or well-intentioned activists in general (not even a drop in the bucket for the general public), and it needs to be, as sisson makes crystal clear. very very very important read and unfortunately extremely timely post-roe v wade.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Racism, Trafficking, Grief, Pregnancy, Colonisation, and Classism

Moderate: Religious bigotry

Minor: Domestic abuse and Rape

csleeds's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Religious bigotry, Abortion, Pregnancy, and Abandonment

Minor: Infertility, Racism, and Pandemic/Epidemic

Adoption trauma mentioned throughout as well

lisettemarie's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative reflective sad

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Addiction, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Racism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Abortion, and Classism

jenniferbbookdragon's review

challenging informative medium-paced

4.5

Sisson has done serious academic work and presents it with compassion and recognition of the politics involved. By interviewing 77 women who placed children for adoption,  17 of them twice at 10 year intervals,  she is able to share the experiences of the people forgotten by most writings about adoption. Through their stories,  we see how women are shamed, manipulated, and left behind by those with money, privilege, and political agendas. She makes a compelling case for a complete reset of adoption law and practice, from enforceable open adoption agreements and options counseling that includes a parenting plan,  to honest sex education and public support systems that include affordable housing,  healthcare, and paid family leave.
I worked in child welfare for 8 years in the 1990s and early 2000s, and saw many of the issues raised here. Birth mothers have incredible grief and deserve more support,  better services,  and a right to a continued relationship to their child.
Thank you to the author and the birth mothers for sharing this.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Pregnancy, and Classism

Moderate: Bullying, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Pregnancy, and Abandonment

grace_b_3's review

informative sad slow-paced

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Religious bigotry, Abortion, and Abandonment

Moderate: Racism, Rape, and Sexism

fkshg8465's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative sad slow-paced

5.0

This is the second book I’ve read about the impact of adoptions that no one talks about. First one was What White Patents Should Know about Transracial Adoption by Melissa Guida-Richards last year. That was from the perspective of the adopted child (written as an adopted adult). This book was just as powerful. I’m so glad we are now talking about the full picture of what it means to give up a child for adoption, especially in light of the Dobbs decision.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Bullying, Confinement, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Religious bigotry, Abortion, Abandonment, Colonisation, Classism, and Pandemic/Epidemic