Birth Parents’ Portrayals in Children’s Adoption Literature

Abstract

Few studies have systematically analyzed adoption-themed books for children or how birth parents are depicted. This article analyzes 104 books in English designated for children aged 4 to 8 years that are focused on adoption to understand how birth parents are portrayed. Findings indicate that birth parents are often represented with stereotypical, value-based, and cultural perceptions, resulting in an inability to care for children as the reasons or choices for adoption placement. As parents rely on books to develop narratives and to socialize children, the lack of accurate depictions of birth parents and the structural barriers they face has implications for adoptee understanding of adoption and for adoptee adjustment and identity.