https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9550-8389
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Abstract
Intercountry adoptees (ICAs) face life-long challenges within their ecological contexts that warrant exploration. Adoptees’ visible adoptions make them susceptible to microaggressions. This study examined the relation between racial and adoption microaggressions (RMAs, AMAs) and youths’ belonging-to-family among 98 French intercountry adopted adolescents. Moderators of this relation were also explored (visibility, identity connections to country-of-origin or adoption, and parent-adoptee communication challenges). More RMA experiences were correlated with weaker belonging-to-family; logistic regression analyses revealed that stronger identity connections to country-of-origin exacerbated this correlation. The nature of these microaggressions was similar to those noted in previous studies on ICAs.
Notes
1 “Colorblind” refers to avoidance of discussing or acknowledging racial differences so as to avoid the appearance of bias (Apfelbaum et al., Citation2008). Although we prefer the term ‘color-evasive’, we use “colorblind” here, as it reflects France’s official position (Bleich, Citation2001). Hence, we use “colorblind” in quotes throughout.
2 EFA is a coalition of more than 6000 adoptive families. MASF is an umbrella organization for country-specific parent-run adoption organizations (e.g., for children adopted from Colombia, Madagascar, Haiti, etc.).