Pendlande identifikationer- en studie om internationellt adopterade
(2010) SOPA63 20092School of Social Work
- Abstract
- The aim of this study was to examine international adoptees' reflections of the own ethnic identity. Through semi-structured interviews, six adult adoptees shared their experiences from their childhood and the present concerning identity. Five different themes were used in the interviews to discuss identity; reflections of the self, interactions with the adoptive family, interactions with same-age peers, interactions with strangers and search of origin. The results of this study were analyzed through a social constructionistic perspective. The results indicate that the international adoptees’ ethnic identity and thoughts of origin fluctuate depending on the social context, point in time and the geographic location. The adoptees all... (More)
- The aim of this study was to examine international adoptees' reflections of the own ethnic identity. Through semi-structured interviews, six adult adoptees shared their experiences from their childhood and the present concerning identity. Five different themes were used in the interviews to discuss identity; reflections of the self, interactions with the adoptive family, interactions with same-age peers, interactions with strangers and search of origin. The results of this study were analyzed through a social constructionistic perspective. The results indicate that the international adoptees’ ethnic identity and thoughts of origin fluctuate depending on the social context, point in time and the geographic location. The adoptees all experienced a feeling of normality within the adoptive family and were only reminded of their differing appearance in few instances involving social interactions with other individuals. The majority of the adoptees had been teased by same-age peers during the school years due to their foreign appearance, however the adoptees showed a tendency to tone down these experiences. Most of the adoptees had experienced discriminating treatment linked to interactions with strangers. The discrimination was linked to the adoptees’ feelings of being categorized as immigrants. Two adoptees had thoughts of their origin at a young age, this resulted in self-constructed fantasies. Five adoptees had chosen to travel to the country of origin, however there was a variation of what the intentions were for the travels. Although the adoptees shared negative experiences and thoughts connected to their adoption they could also see benefits of being adopted. This was an aspect that had changed in time. The adoptees saw these benefits later in life which shows that feelings towards the own adoption may be dependent of an individual timeline.
Key words: identity, ethnic identity/identifications, racialisation, inner/outer search of origin, roots. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/1529431
- author
- Luthra, Christine LU
- supervisor
- organization
- course
- SOPA63 20092
- year
- 2010
- type
- M2 - Bachelor Degree
- subject
- keywords
- etnisk identitet/identifikationer, roots. Identitet, inner/outer search of origin, racialisation, Identity, ethnic identity/identifications, rasifiering, inre/yttre sökning av ursprung, rötter.
- language
- Swedish
- id
- 1529431
- date added to LUP
- 2010-01-20 14:52:56
- date last changed
- 2010-01-20 14:52:56
@misc{1529431,
abstract = {{The aim of this study was to examine international adoptees' reflections of the own ethnic identity. Through semi-structured interviews, six adult adoptees shared their experiences from their childhood and the present concerning identity. Five different themes were used in the interviews to discuss identity; reflections of the self, interactions with the adoptive family, interactions with same-age peers, interactions with strangers and search of origin. The results of this study were analyzed through a social constructionistic perspective. The results indicate that the international adoptees’ ethnic identity and thoughts of origin fluctuate depending on the social context, point in time and the geographic location. The adoptees all experienced a feeling of normality within the adoptive family and were only reminded of their differing appearance in few instances involving social interactions with other individuals. The majority of the adoptees had been teased by same-age peers during the school years due to their foreign appearance, however the adoptees showed a tendency to tone down these experiences. Most of the adoptees had experienced discriminating treatment linked to interactions with strangers. The discrimination was linked to the adoptees’ feelings of being categorized as immigrants. Two adoptees had thoughts of their origin at a young age, this resulted in self-constructed fantasies. Five adoptees had chosen to travel to the country of origin, however there was a variation of what the intentions were for the travels. Although the adoptees shared negative experiences and thoughts connected to their adoption they could also see benefits of being adopted. This was an aspect that had changed in time. The adoptees saw these benefits later in life which shows that feelings towards the own adoption may be dependent of an individual timeline.
Key words: identity, ethnic identity/identifications, racialisation, inner/outer search of origin, roots.}},
author = {{Luthra, Christine}},
language = {{swe}},
note = {{Student Paper}},
title = {{Pendlande identifikationer- en studie om internationellt adopterade}},
year = {{2010}},
}