This article is currently on the New York Times website.
It is titled “Adopted in China, Seeking Identity in America” and was written by Lynette Clemetson.

The article is written about adoptees from China, but easily applies to any transracially adopted child and family. It focuses on children adopted from China who are now teenagers, and how this first group of current-day adopted children are handling issues of race and culture.

The article states, “As the oldest of the adopted children move through their teenage years, they are beginning — independently and with a mix of enthusiasm and trepidation — to explore their identities. Their experiences offer hints at journeys yet to come for thousands of Chinese children who are now becoming part of American families each year.”

The article talks about how different adoptees have different feelings regarding their culture. One wants to be “just like her friends” and doesn’t enjoy doing Chinese cultural activities because they make her different. Another uses her Chinese name and embraces her “different-ness”.

Jan Brown, a social worker, adoptive parent and teacher of classes to other adoptive parents gives the following advice in the article, “The families should directly confront issues of loss and rejection, which the children often face when they begin to understand the social and gender politics that caused their families in China to abandon them.”

Brown also says that, “Transracial adoptive families need to address American attitudes on race early, consistently and head on. Sometimes parents want to celebrate, even exoticize, their child's culture, without really dealing with race. It is one thing to dress children up in cute Chinese dresses, but the children need real contact with Asian-Americans, not just waiters in restaurants on Chinese New Year. And they need real validation about the racial issues they experience."

Another thing discussed is the importance of same-race friends to many adoptees, Children find a connection and un understanding with friends who are also adopted that they do not find in children who are not adopted.

A few adoptees are interviewed in the article and there are a couple of nice photos too. Those teenage years are just around the corner for several of my kids, and I enjoyed the perspective that this article gives. I also liked the fact that overall, the adoptees in the article were happy with their lives and the overall picture that is painted. I think its great that the NY times is giving attention to adoption, race and cultural issues.