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En resa mellan tillhörighet och utanförskap: En kvalitativ studie om kinesiska adopterades identitetsskapande i Sverige

Adenor, Alice LU (2025) SANK03 20251
Social Anthropology
Abstract
This thesis explores how Chinese adoptees in Sweden negotiate their identity in a society characterized by a norm of whiteness. By collecting empirical research through seven interviews, it aims to shed light on Chinese adoptees and their experiences. Although transnational adoption discourse and research is fairly widespread in Sweden, there has not yet been made a lot of research about adoptees from China. This thesis therefore has the purpose of contributing to the representation of adoptees both in Swedish and anthropological research. Using a theoretical framework of racialisation, identity construction, kinship and belonging, this thesis shows that the negotiation of identity begins from early childhood where both family and the... (More)
This thesis explores how Chinese adoptees in Sweden negotiate their identity in a society characterized by a norm of whiteness. By collecting empirical research through seven interviews, it aims to shed light on Chinese adoptees and their experiences. Although transnational adoption discourse and research is fairly widespread in Sweden, there has not yet been made a lot of research about adoptees from China. This thesis therefore has the purpose of contributing to the representation of adoptees both in Swedish and anthropological research. Using a theoretical framework of racialisation, identity construction, kinship and belonging, this thesis shows that the negotiation of identity begins from early childhood where both family and the environment are important aspects of an adopted child’s experiences. The social norm of whiteness is influencing the adoptees’ mostly through encounters of exclusion from Swedishness and national belonging, both of which stems from prejudice and stereotypical expectations created by the norm. However, this norm has had variable affect on the adoptees’ identity construction and sense of national belonging, as is demonstrated by their feelings towards China and Sweden and how much they prioritize the search for biological family. While some of the adoptees express insecurity about their place in Swedish society in regards to whiteness, the respondents experienced a greater confidence negotiating their identity as young adults. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Adenor, Alice LU
supervisor
organization
course
SANK03 20251
year
type
M2 - Bachelor Degree
subject
keywords
Socialantropologi, transnationell adoption, identitetsskapande, social vithet, tillhörighet
language
Swedish
id
9210830
date added to LUP
2025-08-27 12:50:08
date last changed
2025-08-27 12:50:08
@misc{9210830,
  abstract     = {{This thesis explores how Chinese adoptees in Sweden negotiate their identity in a society characterized by a norm of whiteness. By collecting empirical research through seven interviews, it aims to shed light on Chinese adoptees and their experiences. Although transnational adoption discourse and research is fairly widespread in Sweden, there has not yet been made a lot of research about adoptees from China. This thesis therefore has the purpose of contributing to the representation of adoptees both in Swedish and anthropological research. Using a theoretical framework of racialisation, identity construction, kinship and belonging, this thesis shows that the negotiation of identity begins from early childhood where both family and the environment are important aspects of an adopted child’s experiences. The social norm of whiteness is influencing the adoptees’ mostly through encounters of exclusion from Swedishness and national belonging, both of which stems from prejudice and stereotypical expectations created by the norm. However, this norm has had variable affect on the adoptees’ identity construction and sense of national belonging, as is demonstrated by their feelings towards China and Sweden and how much they prioritize the search for biological family. While some of the adoptees express insecurity about their place in Swedish society in regards to whiteness, the respondents experienced a greater confidence negotiating their identity as young adults.}},
  author       = {{Adenor, Alice}},
  language     = {{swe}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{En resa mellan tillhörighet och utanförskap: En kvalitativ studie om kinesiska adopterades identitetsskapande i Sverige}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}