The Difference Difference Makes: Justine Wise Polier and Religious Matching in Twentieth-Century Child Adoption
During much of the twentieth Century, adoption has relied on the paradoxical theory that differences are managed best by denying their existence. According to the “matching” paradigm that has governed modern adoption, adults who acquire children born to others must look, feel, and behave as if they...
Main Author: | |
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Format: | Electronic Article |
Language: | English |
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Published: |
Cambridge University Press
2000
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In: |
Religion and American culture
Year: 2000, Volume: 10, Issue: 1, Pages: 57-98 |
Online Access: |
Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) |
Summary: | During much of the twentieth Century, adoption has relied on the paradoxical theory that differences are managed best by denying their existence. According to the “matching” paradigm that has governed modern adoption, adults who acquire children born to others must look, feel, and behave as if they had given birth themselves. In spite of intensive efforts to erase distinction, distinction endures as an obvious characteristic of kinship outside of blood. The fact that adoption is a different way to make a family has profoundly shaped popular attitudes and professional policies. The fact that adoptive families are “made up” is surely one of the most interesting and important things about how such families come to be. |
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ISSN: | 1533-8568 |
Contains: | Enthalten in: Religion and American culture
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Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1525/rac.2000.10.1.03a00030 |