Blog Post #1: Option #2: Feminism

       When contrasting the connections and/or challenges between birthmothers and feminists discussed within the pages of “Claiming Rights in the Era of Choice” we, as readers, must refer back to previous chapters throughout our reading.

A major challenge that makes itself quite evident in Part Two is the dispute between CUB (a adoptee birthparents club) and NOW (a feminist group). Solinger states that "[NOW] refused Lee's claims that birthmothers in her era had lacked options, had experienced coercion, and had been used to profit others" (p. 117). Lee Campbell, a CUB member, tried to create a sort of partnership between NOW and CUB.

If the reader reverts back to Part One, Solinger talks about how some of the unwed mothers were sent off to maternity houses, such as St. Agnes, by their parents so that they can ensure that their daughter gave the unwanted child up for adoption. Solinger even portrays a story told by a testimonial woman that was fighting her parents and the hospital for her child when they heavily tranquilized her. She said, “The nurse literally picked up my hand and signed my name” (p. 76). Addressing the comment made by the NOW group above I think this is one hell of a ‘coercion’ and that the woman who was tranquilized ‘lacked options.’ And these are just some examples given to the readers by Solinger.

Addressing the question why did the birthmothers think the loss of their children should be included as a feminist concern? I believe the birthmothers think that the loss of their children should be included as a feminist concern because it seems, through historical references in the book, that the rights and freedoms of women are taken away by authority figures throughout the adoption process. They believe this is a feminist concern by means of disempowerment of, not only the female but mother's choice.

Solinger,R. “Claiming Rights in the Era of Choice” Part 1: Awakenings in Beggars and Choosers: How the Politics of Choice Shapes Adoption, Abortion, and Welfare in the United States. U.S.: Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, 2001: pp. 65-101.

Solinger,R. “Claiming Rights in the Era of Choice” Part 2: Concerned united birthparents in Beggars and Choosers: How the Politics of Choice Shapes Adoption, Abortion, and Welfare in the United States. U.S.: Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, 2001: pp. 103-138.

-Michael Olson

Blog post number 1: Birthmothers and feminism

    Addressing the connections and challenges between birthmothers and feminists, it is clear from the “Beggars and Choosers” readings that birthmothers had a lack of support from feminists.  Solinger states that CUB women who looked to feminists organizations with claims about birthmother rights were seen as out-of-date and non-feminist (116).   Most women who were affiliated with a feminist organization, such as NOW, in the early stages of second wave feminism, “were deeply concerned with articulating resistance to the idea – and to public polices supporting the idea – that motherhood was the life-defining activity and status for women,” (116).  

     Birthmothers believed that the loss of their children should be included as a feminist concern because the loss of child was a difficult issue for a mother.  Carole Anderson stated in a NOW meeting in the early 1970s that, “the real issue for me was losing my son.  I thought of that as a feminist issue.  I couldn’t think of a worse way to oppress a woman,” (116).  However, the battle continued for Anderson and other birthmothers like Lee Campbell.  She tried to make ties with CUB and NOW, but NOW, “refused Lee’s claims that birthmothers in her era had lacked options, had experienced coercion, and had been used to profit others,” (117).  NOW believed that birthmothers and the adopting parents both made a personal choice when it came to adoption.  Also, Anderson was told by feminists that adoption was not a feminist issue because women benefited from getting adopted babies,” (117). 

    In one way I can see why the feminists disregarded the birthmothers because, from what I know from taking a Women’s Voices class, the second wave was about showing to the public that there was more to being a woman than being a mother.  However, I would have hoped that the feminists would have listed to the birthmothers more because these women did face an issue that was considered feminist.  I say this because feminist issues, to me, is about helping women who do not fit the “typical” norms.   Women who wanted to more than mothers, who wanted to practice sex more freely, who wanted support as an unwed, single birthmother. 

     When it comes to feminists issues today, I believe that feminists today would be more welcoming to birthmothers’ concerns.  The readings that we as a class have read show the struggles that unwed birthmothers face when it comes to adoption.  We are more open to talking about it and getting a feel as to what these women went through.  Before, it was such a touchy subject that most people did not want to touch it.  While it does anger me that feminists treated birthmothers harshly, you can imagine it was hard for feminists in the first place to get their voice out through the issues they already had on their agenda.  Imagine being a feminist and then adding birthmothers’ struggles to the agenda.  It doesn’t sound so easy. 

-Mickey N.

Solinger, R. (2001).  "Clamining rights in te era of choice: Part II: Concerned united birthparents," from Beggars and choosers: How the politics of choice shapes adoption, abortion, and welfare in the United States.  NY: Hill and Wang, p.103-138.

Ethics

When it comes to the subject of ethics, a definition we found helpful comes from Adam Blatner.  He states:

 "Ethics involves the sphere of interpersonal, group, and community politics at the level of values–not just what can be achieved or how to achieve it, but more what should be sought, in the realm of social harmony and fairness."

A question you might ask yourself is what makes something ethical. The Markula Center for Applied Ethics located at the Santa Clara University formed questions to ask one's self in order to clarify if the subject is ethical or not:

1. Could this decision or situation be damaging to someone or to some group? Does this decision involve a choice between a good and bad alternative, or perhaps between two "goods" or between two "bads"?
2. Is this issue about more than what is legal or what is most efficient? If so, how?

Some examples of ethical issues in the area of adoption would be:

• Open/closed adoption
• Expenses
• Who gets accepted to adopt children
• Biological parents wanting to keep the child at the last second
• Biological parents wanting money for child
• Church involvement
• Gay/Lesbian adoption
• Govenment involvement
• Inspection of environment child is living in
• Age restrictions
• Single parent adoption
• Transracial adoption

Some ways people try to resolve ethical issues include government action, public action, voting, or compromise.  Also, another question that could be asked is, "what is best for everyone involved?"

Stay tuned for more information on adoption.

Thanks,

Group Awesome :)

We are.... Group Awesome! Awesome Adoption

Group Awesome is a group we formed for our Ethics/Gender class with a subject on Adoption.