Closing International
October 2024
I have been inhaling various medias as I learn more about my biological heritage and adoption journey. This post while cathartic is difficult to formulate. I want to ask for grace and compassion from those reading. The policy change discussed below is bringing forward many emotions and thoughts. Personally, I find myself processing this news as a loss - grief.
Within the last month China has announced the closing of its International adoption program.
The letter pictured was released to prospective families and other parties without further reference or explanation.
This change has come to the forefront as I have only recently begun to discover more about my identity, adoption and biological culture. Before the release of this news, I had not yet formed an opinion for or against the abolishment of adoption or international adoption. Now, I am having difficulty not seeing this policy change as being yet another ‘decision’ made for me.
However, I am able to have my own thoughts such as, how will this policy change impact (existing) adoptee biological and cultural searches? Will our records be accessible or destroyed and denied to us? Searching is a complexity that is likely to be made that much more monumentally difficult.
I also hold an immense sorrow for the families and children in process that will now never be united as one family. Along this same line is concern for the children with disabilities - how will they be treated in a society that regards them as nothing but broken?
This news is impacting many lives and communities leaving people with mixed emotions and unanswered questions
I do want to recognize that some within communities view this policy change as a wonderful thing. I am glad people have differing opinions and hope they have a sense of peace or can work towards it.
I am speaking from my own life experiences and opinions as a transracial adoptee. Please recognize everyone is entitled to their own views and may have different experiences.
