Jessys Journal

Most of the posts I write here have to do with my job and are only loosely based on my real life, but this one is as real as it gets.

For the past six months, I have been working on a book that summarizes and explains the anti-adoption movement.  It's called Unlearning Adoption: A Guide to Family Preservation and Protection, and it is now available in print.  It suffices as a bit of a dummies' guide to anti-adoption thoughts and opinions; it's short, easy to read, and provides references and footnotes for all of the adoption facts mentioned within it. 

I know most people who hear the words "against" and "adoption" used in the same sentence are usually rather shocked to learn that adoption is actually not a gentle and benevolent solution for unplanned pregnancy and orphaned or abused children.  That's the only way we ever see adoption portrayed in the media, anyway, and that's certainly the way the billion dollar adoption industry would have us continue to see it. 

I've worked with natural parents, adopted adults, and others whose lives have been impacted by adoption since I first questioned the act myself many years ago.  Starting up a support organization for expectant parents has put me in touch with families who have lost children to unethical adoption practices, and still more families who were struggling to retain custody of their children despite pressure from adoption agencies to surrender them.  Our adoption industry is no more ethical than most big businesses, it has simply managed to attain sacred cow status in a culture permeated with celebrity adoptions and adoption-happy media (not to mention wealthy pro-adoption lobbying groups like the NCFA -- and no, they aren't getting a link here).

Have you ever thought about adopting a child?  Are you facing an unplanned pregnancy?  Do you have a niggling suspicion that something about adoption needs to change?  Would you just like to know more about adoption history and current adoption trends?  Pick up a copy of Unlearning Adoption and get ready to think about children, families, and custody in a whole new way. 

jessy @ 17:00 | comments(0) | Permanent link