[ahiggin7]

I am a student at Delaware Tech Community College and I have to anonymously survey 30 parents who have adopted children of another race. I was wondering if you all could please help me reach this goal so I can finish my research paper on Interracial adoption. Please copy and paste the survey and submit on this discussion board.

1. At what age were your child(ren) when adopted?
0-2 _______ 2-5 _______ 5-7 _______ 7+ _______

2. What race are you and your significant other? (If other please explain.)

White _______ African American ______ Indian _______ Asian _______

Hispanic _______ Other ______________________________

3. What race is the child(ren) you have adopted? (If other please explain.)
White _______ African American _______ Indian _______ Asian _______

Hispanic ________ Other _______________________________

4. How often did you or your child(ren) experience racism personally?

Daily _______ Weekly _______ Monthly _______ Yearly _______ Never _______

5. How difficult is it for your child(ren) to face these prejudice experiences?

Very Difficult _______ Difficult _______ Moderately Difficult _______ Easy _______

6. Do you teach you child(ren) the history of their culture and stress the importance of maintaining their culture?

Daily _______ Weekly _______ Monthly _______ Yearly _______ Never _______

7. My Interracially adopted child(ren) have struggled with their cultural identity.

Strongly Agree _______ Agree _______ Disagree _______ Strongly Disagree _______

8. Overall how do you feel your family has been effected by interracial adoption?

Positive ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ Negative

9. If there are any other comments you would like to voice to help me in my research please do so here.

[Linny]

1. At what age were your child(ren) when adopted?
0-2 Five infants all under 1yr of age

2. What race are you and your significant other? (If other please explain.)

White _X______

3. What race is the child(ren) you have adopted? (If other please explain.)
African American _3______ Asian __2_____

4. How often did you or your child(ren) experience racism personally?

Yearly ___x *yearly at most

5. How difficult is it for your child(ren) to face these prejudice experiences?

X--I wouldn't say 'easy'; but not as moderately difficult. More like minorly difficult

6. Do you teach you child(ren) the history of their culture and stress the importance of maintaining their culture?

Yes we have, and do. The two children who are Asian are now grown and on their own. They felt dh and I stressed this far too much while they were growing up.
At least yearly, but daily in dealing with specifics that may come along; pointing out 'what society may expect them to feel and 'be'; vs what they may choose to feel and 'be'.

7. My Interracially adopted child(ren) have struggled with their cultural identity.
Strongly Disagree

8. Overall how do you feel your family has been effected by interracial adoption?
VERY positively

9. If there are any other comments you would like to voice to help me in my research please do so here.

Much of the attitude that has to do with transracial adoption, is whether the adoptive parents are/were willing to accept that their child would forever change THEIR family dynamics and how society would/will view and accept THEM (the adoptive parents). It also has to do with how the adoptive parents view themselves and how THEY feel they fit into society as CC people or any other ethnicity, I believe.

All too often, someone who adopts transracially, will strive to make their child into something they are 'not'.....and that's not necessarily making their AA child into what the media may feel exhibits AA culture. For instance, which 'culture' would someone relate to that should/would express true AA culture? Would someone be correct to choose a rural culture where the individual might farm and/or also wear blue jeans and T-shirts, and wear their hair in a more natural style? Or, is AA culture that which might be seen on the evening news with some AA kids wearing baggy pants to their knees, huge sweatshirts and possibly hair in dredlocks?
My point is, I believe there's a huge misconception of what AA culture is or supposed to be; yet too many people are quick to assume that it's only an inner-city culture, more so than being an AA culture.
How many of our AA children were actuallyl born in Africa? Not too many; and most individuals would have no idea of what true African culture would be; yet, many 'assume' the views of the media, instead of those one might see with President-elect Obama, or Colin Powell...both successful and influential men who hardly exhibit---too often---- the 'commonly assumed' AA culture of our time.

Regarding our Asian born children? They, as adults have said that my husband and I stressed 'their culture' FAR too much as they were growing up. (And we lived in Japan for some time, so we felt it was even more important and at our fingertips, so to speak.) Yet, their belief is that 'we were adopted as infants and OUR culture is American, period.'
I know it must vary with each individual, and therefore, every transracial adopting parent should be prepared; but too often this point is made as being what the majority of transracial adoptions MUST be and look like, in order for there to be success. This, IMO, just isn't true.

Just my two-cents, and more.....

Sincerely,

Linny

[ahiggin7]

Thank you so much for taking the time to help me out. I really appreciate it!

[jennandsteve]

1. At what age were your child(ren) when adopted?
0-2 ______xxx_ 2-5 _______ 5-7 _______ 7+ _______

2. What race are you and your significant other? (If other please explain.)

White ____x___ African American ______ Indian _______ Asian _______

Hispanic _______ Other ______________________________

3. What race is the child(ren) you have adopted? (If other please explain.)
White _______ African American _______ Indian _______ Asian _______

Hispanic ___xx_____ Other _______________________________

4. How often did you or your child(ren) experience racism personally?

Daily _______ Weekly _______ Monthly _______ Yearly _xxx______ Never _______

5. How difficult is it for your child(ren) to face these prejudice experiences?

Very Difficult _______ Difficult _______ Moderately Difficult _______ Easy ______xxxx_ , They are not yet old enough to really understand.

6. Do you teach you child(ren) the history of their culture and stress the importance of maintaining their culture?

Daily _____xxx__ Weekly _______ Monthly _______ Yearly _______ Never _______

7. My Interracially adopted child(ren) have struggled with their cultural identity.

Strongly Agree _______ Agree _______ Disagree _______ Strongly Disagree _____xxxx, to young yet I think__

8. Overall how do you feel your family has been effected by interracial adoption?

Positive _x__ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ Negative

9. If there are any other comments you would like to voice to help me in my research please do so here.

[MichelleL11]

1. At what age were your child(ren) when adopted?
0-2 XXX__ 2-5 _______ 5-7 _______ 7+ _______

2. What race are you and your significant other? (If other please explain.)

White _XXX___ African American ______ Indian _______ Asian _______

Hispanic _______ Other ______________________________

3. What race is the child(ren) you have adopted? (If other please explain.)
White _______ African American __XXX__ Indian _______ Asian _______

Hispanic ________ Other _______________________________

4. How often did you or your child(ren) experience racism personally?

Daily _______ Weekly _______ Monthly _______ Yearly _XXX___ Never _______

5. How difficult is it for your child(ren) to face these prejudice experiences?

Very Difficult _______ Difficult _______ Moderately Difficult _______ Easy __XXX__

6. Do you teach you child(ren) the history of their culture and stress the importance of maintaining their culture?

Daily _XXX___ Weekly _______ Monthly _______ Yearly _______ Never _______

7. My Interracially adopted child(ren) have struggled with their cultural identity.

Strongly Agree _______ Agree _______ Disagree _______ Strongly Disagree __XXX__

8. Overall how do you feel your family has been effected by interracial adoption?

Positive __X_ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ Negative

9. If there are any other comments you would like to voice to help me in my research please do so here.

My daughter is just turned two, so many of these questions just aren't applicable yet. She hasn't had to deal with the few racial issues we have faced (two expressions of the inappropriateness of white parents adopting a black child) nor does she yet understand that she is different in appearance from us.
However, we have already started talking and read books about these issues -- like the obvious fact she was adopted, we hope that the fact that she is black and unique to be just part of the way things are rather than something that has to be painfully learned. I understand that she will face issues during her life related to her race and the fact that she does not have the same race as her parents, but I am hoping that our support will help get her through them.

[joskids]

1. At what age were your child(ren) when adopted?
0-2 __XX_____ 2-5 _______ 5-7 _______ 7+ _______

2. What race are you and your significant other? (If other please explain.)

White X African American X Indian _______ Asian _______

Hispanic _______ Other ______________________________

3. What race is the child(ren) you have adopted? (If other please explain.)
White _______ African American ___X__ Indian _______ Asian _______

Hispanic ________ Other _______________________________

4. How often did you or your child(ren) experience racism personally?

Daily _______ Weekly _______ Monthly _______ Yearly ___X____ Never _______

5. How difficult is it for your child(ren) to face these prejudice experiences?

Very Difficult _______ Difficult _______ Moderately Difficult _______ Easy ___X____

6. Do you teach you child(ren) the history of their culture and stress the importance of maintaining their culture?

Daily _______ Weekly ___X____ Monthly _______ Yearly _______ Never _______

7. My Interracially adopted child(ren) have struggled with their cultural identity.

Strongly Agree _______ Agree _______ Disagree _______ Strongly Disagree _______

8. Overall how do you feel your family has been effected by interracial adoption?

Positive X___ ___ ___ ___ ___ Negative




9. If there are any other comments you would like to voice to help me in my research please do so here. We are an interracial couple. Our children are biracial and AA. We live in a very diverse community with very diverse schools, we attend a black Catholic church in the city, most of our friends are adoptive family and many have adopted transracially. In our family, color is just "no big deal." Both my husband's family (AA) and my family (CC) are laced with much diversity. Our children have a strong sense of self-esteem and an understanding that they also have families that gave birth to them.

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[MamaS]

1. At what age were your child(ren) when adopted?
0-2 _______ 2-5 ___X____ 5-7 _______ 7+ _______

2. What race are you and your significant other? (If other please explain.)

White ___X____ African American ______ Indian _______ Asian _______

Hispanic _______ Other ______________________________

3. What race is the child(ren) you have adopted? (If other please explain.)
White _______ African American _______ Indian _______ Asian _______

Hispanic ____X____ Other _______________________________

4. How often did you or your child(ren) experience racism personally?

Daily _______ Weekly _______ Monthly _______ Yearly ___X____ Never _______

5. How difficult is it for your child(ren) to face these prejudice experiences?

Very Difficult _______ Difficult _______ Moderately Difficult ___X____ Easy _______

6. Do you teach you child(ren) the history of their culture and stress the importance of maintaining their culture?

Daily _______ Weekly _______ Monthly _______ Yearly _______ Never _______ (at times)

7. My Interracially adopted child(ren) have struggled with their cultural identity.

Strongly Agree _______ Agree _______ Disagree ___X____ Strongly Disagree _______

8. Overall how do you feel your family has been effected by interracial adoption?

Positive ___X ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ Negative

9. If there are any other comments you would like to voice to help me in my research please do so here.
My HIspanic daughters had more problems from people who did not understand how they could have no father (single parent adoption) than how they could have a white mother.

[aclee]

1. At what age was your child when adopted?
0-2 (I have 1 Ten month old)

2. What race are you and your significant other?
White

3. What race is the child you have adopted?
African American

4. How often did you or your child experience racism personally?
I would say 3-4 times in 10 months

5. How difficult is it for your child to face these prejudice experiences?
Easy (I am very zero tolerance)

6. Do you teach your child the history of their culture and stress the importance of maintaining their culture?
Several times a week. He's still pretty little, but we talk abou this skin, hair and culture and his bio family when we are in the bath.

7. My Interracially adopted child have struggled with their cultural identity.
So far he doesn't!

8. Overall how do you feel your family has been effected by interracial adoption?
Very positive.

9. If there are any other comments you would like to voice to help me in my research please do so here.
Too many people are too afraid of the challenge. I think it's doable if it's what you really want!

[WizardofOz]

1. At what age was your child when adopted?
0-2 (from birth on)

2. What race are you and your significant other?
White

3. What race is the child you have adopted?
Southeast Asian

4. How often did you or your child experience racism personally?
Never

5. How difficult is it for your child to face these prejudice experiences?
Easy (since there are none)

6. Do you teach your child the history of their culture and stress the importance of maintaining their culture?
Daily. We teach him about Hinduism and Buddhism and take him to the temple regularly.

7. My Interracially adopted child have struggled with their cultural identity.
Nope.

8. Overall how do you feel your family has been effected by interracial adoption?
Very positive!

9. If there are any other comments you would like to voice to help me in my research please do so here.
It's definitely a very positive thing and I hope the trend will increase. It will be especially successful if you always had an affinity towards the birth culture of your child, regardless of adoption. Do not force your own (e.g "white") culture on your child, be curious about your child's birth culture and adopt it, too! For example, learn Spanish if you adopted a Hispanic child, embrace the teachings of Hinduism if you adopted an Indian child etc. Use this opportunity that you are given through your child to grow yourself.

[rredhead]

1. At what age were your child(ren) when adopted?
0-2
3 days when we took custody
7 months when we finalized

2. What race are you and your significant other? (If other please explain.)

White

3. What race is the child(ren) you have adopted? (If other please explain.)
Jack is Black and White.
His birth grandmother is presumably 1/2 black and 1/2 German. So, I don't use the term "African American" to identify Jack.

4. How often did you or your child(ren) experience racism personally?
Never _______

5. How difficult is it for your child(ren) to face these prejudice experiences?

NA

6. Do you teach you child(ren) the history of their culture and stress the importance of maintaining their culture?

Daily
Or as daily as possible at age 2. We read books that have many characters, and we listen to jazz and other historically black music.

7. My Interracially adopted child(ren) have struggled with their cultural identity.

Strongly Disagree

8. Overall how do you feel your family has been effected by interracial adoption?
(Affected)

Positive

9. If there are any other comments you would like to voice to help me in my research please do so here.
Jack is only 2 (almost 3), so we haven't faced any real issues yet.

Good luck with your research!

[Shadowfaerie]

1. At what age were your child(ren) when adopted?
2 days old

2. What race are you and your significant other? (If other please explain.)

White

3. What race is the child(ren) you have adopted? (If other please explain.)
African American_______________________________

4. How often did you or your child(ren) experience racism personally?

None so far (son is 21 months)

5. How difficult is it for your child(ren) to face these prejudice experiences?

NA

6. Do you teach you child(ren) the history of their culture and stress the importance of maintaining their culture?

Daily

7. My Interracially adopted child(ren) have struggled with their cultural identity.

NA

8. Overall how do you feel your family has been effected by interracial adoption?

Positive _x__ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ Negative

9. If there are any other comments you would like to voice to help me in my research please do so here.

[Singlemom619]

1. At what age were your child(ren) when adopted?
0-2 _______ 2-5 ___XXX____ 5-7 ___XXX____ 7+ _______

2. What race are you and your significant other? (If other please explain.)

White ___XXX____ African American ______ Indian _______ Asian _______

Hispanic _______ Other ______________________________

3. What race is the child(ren) you have adopted? (If other please explain.)
White _______ African American ___XXX____ Indian _______ Asian _______

Hispanic ________ Other ____Native American___________________________

4. How often did you or your child(ren) experience racism personally?

Daily _______ Weekly _______ Monthly ___XX____ Yearly _______ Never _______

5. How difficult is it for your child(ren) to face these prejudice experiences?

Very Difficult _______ Difficult _______ Moderately Difficult _______ Easy ___XX____

6. Do you teach you child(ren) the history of their culture and stress the importance of maintaining their culture?

Daily _______ Weekly __XX_____ Monthly __XX_____ Yearly _______ Never _______

7. My Interracially adopted child(ren) have struggled with their cultural identity.

Strongly Agree _______ Agree _______ Disagree ___XX____ Strongly Disagree _______

8. Overall how do you feel your family has been effected by interracial adoption?

Positive __XX_ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ Negative

[buttascotchbaby]

1. At what age were your child(ren) when adopted?
0-2 _______ 2-5 _______ 5-7 _______ 7+ ___X____

2. What race are you and your significant other? (If other please explain.)

White ___X____ African American ______ Indian _______ Asian _______

Hispanic _______ Other ______________________________

3. What race is the child(ren) you have adopted? (If other please explain.)
White _______ African American ____X___ Indian _______ Asian _______

Hispanic ___X_____ Other __Polynesian (Samoan/Tongan)_____________________________

4. How often did you or your child(ren) experience racism personally?

Daily _______ Weekly _______ Monthly _______ Yearly _______ Never ___X____(so far! But we live in Hawai'i and have a very accepting and ethnically mixed community)

5. How difficult is it for your child(ren) to face these prejudice experiences?

Very Difficult _______ Difficult _______ Moderately Difficult _______ Easy ___X____

6. Do you teach you child(ren) the history of their culture and stress the importance of maintaining their culture?

Daily _______ Weekly ____X___ Monthly _______ Yearly _______ Never _______

7. My Interracially adopted child(ren) have struggled with their cultural identity.

Strongly Agree _______ Agree _______ Disagree _______ Strongly Disagree __X_____

8. Overall how do you feel your family has been effected by interracial adoption?

Positive _X__ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ Negative

9. If there are any other comments you would like to voice to help me in my research please do so here.

[atouchofheaven]

1. At what age were your child(ren) when adopted?
0-2 _14 months___ 2-5 _______ 5-7 _______ 7+ _______

2. What race are you and your significant other? (If other please explain.)

White __X__ African American ______ Indian _______ Asian _______

Hispanic _______ Other ______________________________

3. What race is the child(ren) you have adopted? (If other please explain.)
White _______ African American __X_____ Indian _______ Asian _______

Hispanic ____X____ Other:

4. How often did you or your child(ren) experience racism personally?

Daily _______ Weekly _______ Monthly _______ Yearly ___rarely but it happens____ Never _______

5. How difficult is it for your child(ren) to face these prejudice experiences?

N/A

6. Do you teach you child(ren) the history of their culture and stress the importance of maintaining their culture?

Daily _______ Weekly ____X___ Monthly _______ Yearly _______ Never _______

7. My Interracially adopted child(ren) have struggled with their cultural identity.

N/A

8. Overall how do you feel your family has been effected by interracial adoption?

Positive _X_ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ Negative

9. If there are any other comments you would like to voice to help me in my research please do so here.

[Celesyee]

1. At what age were your child(ren) when adopted?
0-2

2. What race are you and your significant other? (If other please explain.)
Asian

3. What race is the child(ren) you have adopted? (If other please explain.)
African American

4. How often did you or your child(ren) experience racism personally?

Rarely--Never

5. How difficult is it for your child(ren) to face these prejudice experiences?

Easy

6. Do you teach you child(ren) the history of their culture and stress the importance of maintaining their culture?

Weekly

7. My Interracially adopted child(ren) have struggled with their cultural identity.

N/A He is only 8months old

8. Overall how do you feel your family has been effected by interracial adoption?

Positive

9. If there are any other comments you would like to voice to help me in my research please do so here.

DH and I are both Asian American, but different ethnicities and DS is AA. I really would like to learn more about or hear about others' experience in transracial adoption that is not AA/CC. Please let me know if you come across of any resources regarding such.