The Difference Difference Makes: Justine Wise Polier and Religious Matching in Twentieth-Century Child Adoption

During much of the twentieth Century, adoption has relied on the paradoxical theory that differences are managed best by denying their existence. According to the “matching” paradigm that has governed modern adoption, adults who acquire children born to others must look, feel, and behave as if they...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Herman, Ellen 1957- (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
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Published: Cambridge University Press 2000
In: Religion and American culture
Year: 2000, Volume: 10, Issue: 1, Pages: 57-98
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Summary:During much of the twentieth Century, adoption has relied on the paradoxical theory that differences are managed best by denying their existence. According to the “matching” paradigm that has governed modern adoption, adults who acquire children born to others must look, feel, and behave as if they had given birth themselves. In spite of intensive efforts to erase distinction, distinction endures as an obvious characteristic of kinship outside of blood. The fact that adoption is a different way to make a family has profoundly shaped popular attitudes and professional policies. The fact that adoptive families are “made up” is surely one of the most interesting and important things about how such families come to be.
ISSN:1533-8568
Contains:Enthalten in: Religion and American culture
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1525/rac.2000.10.1.03a00030