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 main "Disorders" page
Disorders Associated with Diabetes main "Infertility & Adoption" page
Adoption Information
The Language of Adoption
Adoption Language, Wikipedia (edited for Content) Article disclaimer
The Language of Adoption
The language used in adoption is changing and evolving, and has become
something of a controversial issue. Two distinct styles of language have arisen,
commonly known as "Positive Adoption Language"
and "Honest Adoption Language."
The controversy arises over the use of terms which, while designed to be more
appealing or less offensive to one "side" of the adoption triad of adopted
person, birth/bioligical/first/natural parent, and adoptive parent, may
simultaneously cause offense or insult to one of the other sides.
Postive Adoptive Language (PAL) The reasons for its use: In many
cultures, adoptive families face adoptism. Adoptism is made evident in English
speaking cultures by the prominent use of negative or inaccurate language
describing adoption. To combat adoptism, many adoptive families encourage
positive adoption language. The reasons against its use: Many birth parents see
"positive adoption language" as language which glosses over painful facts they
face as they go into the indefinite post-adoption period of their lives. Some
birth parents feel PAL has become a way to present adoption in the friendliest
light possible, in order to obtain even more infants for adoption; ie, a
marketing tool. These people refer to PAL as "Adoption Friendly Language" or
AFL.
Terms used in Positive Adoption Language:
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Non-preferred:
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Preferred:
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Reason for preference:
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your own child
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birth child
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Saying a birth child is your own child or
one of your own children implies that an adopted child is not. |
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child is adopted
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child was adopted
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Some adoptees believe that their adoption is not their identity, but is an
event that happened to them. ("Adopted" becomes a participle rather than an
adjective.) Others contend that "is adopted" makes adoption sound like a
disability to be overcome.
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give up for adoption
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place for adoption or
make an adoption plan |
"Give up" implies a lack of value. The preferred terms are more emotionally neutral.
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real mother/father/parent
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birth, biological or genetic
mother/father/parent
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The use of the term "real" implies that the adoptive family is artificial,
and is not as descriptive.
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your adopted child
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your child
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The use of the adjective 'adopted' signals that the relationship is qualitatively different from that of parents to birth
children.
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Honest Adoption Language (HAL) The reasons for its use: Some natural
parents prefer that we use "Honest Adoption Language" (HAL), as they believe
these terms more accurately reflect the hidden and/or ignored realities of
adoption as it applies to them. The reasons against its use: The term "Honest"
implies that all other language used in adoption is dishonest.
Terms used in Honest Adoption Language:
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Common Term:
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Honest Term:
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Reason for preference:
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birth mother
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original, or natural mother or parent OR mother OR parent.
UPDATED: First
Mother or Life Mother
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The term "birth" mother limits a woman's role in her child's life to the
birth, casting her in the role of incubator or breeder. With reunion now an
everyday event women are finding themselves involved in the lives of their
children in many ways,on a spectrum that runs from casual contact through
friendship all the way to reintegrating their children into their original
families. A powerful view, especially held by those in Ireland who cared for their children before being
forced to relinquish them to adoption, is that the term 'birth' mother implies
that they only served as a brood mare when in fact they often raised and cared
for their children for up to two years. The "b" word is a
dehumanizing term. It also implies that the relationship between mother and
child has been severed permanently, which is no longer a given, especially since
the advent of open adoption.
UPDATE: Many modern "birth" mothers in open
adoptions have suggested the use of First Mother or Life Mother as a replacement
to the non-descriptive term of Birth Mother.
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give up for adoption
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surrender for adoption
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"Give up" implies a lack of value, whereas
the truth is that most women wish to raise their own child. HAL acknowledges that past adoption practice facilitated the taking of children for adoption, often against their mother's expressed wishes. Many women who have gone through the process and who lost children to adoption believe that social work techniques used to prepare single mothers to sign Termination Of Parental Rights papers closely resembles a psychological war against motherhood as nature has
mandated it; hence the term "surrender." HAL agrees that "Make a plan" and "Place" are more emotionally neutral, but fundamentally dishonest terms which marginalize or deny the wrenching emotional event of separation on the mother/child dyad. |
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real mother/father/parent
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mother/father/parent |
Possible modifiers for the parental role include: real, legal, adoptive,
first, original, natural. No modifiers are needed for the individual who gives
birth; this person has been referred to as "mother" since time
immemorial.
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adopted child
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adopted person or person who was adopted
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The use of the adjective 'adopted' signals that the relationship is
qualitatively different from that of parents to birth children. The use of the
word "child" is accurate up until the end of childhood. After that the continued
use of the word "child" is infantalizing.
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