Parents and Their Adopted Chinese Children: Adoption and Racial Microaggressions in Diverse Communities

Abstract

In this study using both qualitative and quantitative analysis, we coded the types and community prevalence of racial microaggressions (RMAs) and adoption microaggressions (AMAs) experienced and reported by White adoptive families with children adopted from China. Analyses examined differences in microaggressions reported by transracial adoptive families living in communities varying in racial-ethnic diversity. All families experienced RMAs and/or AMAs. Community diversity was only related to the number of RMAs experienced, and specific microaggressions were significantly related to diversity level. Parents’ interpretation of microaggressions differed based on diversity level.

Keywords:

• Adoption
• microaggression
• transracial
• China
• adoptive parents
• diversity

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the current and former members of both the MSU Adoption Research Team at Montclair State University and the Tufts ADP Lab.

Data availability

Due to the nature of this research, participants of this study were not asked to and did not agree for their data to be shared publicly, so these data are not available.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare there are no competing interests to declare.

Notes

1 We shift from the often-used term “color blindness,” as it is disrespectful to those with visual disabilities.

2 The codebook is available upon request. Please contact Ellen Pinderhughes, Ph.D., Tufts University

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by a William T. Grant Faculty Scholar Award to the last author.