In a post over on adoptedintheuk.co.uk I (again) raised the point of how important the language is that we use around adoption. In the post, it was to happily demonstrate how some organisations are listening to what’s being said by adult adoptees.
In this post, it’s trying to work out why we’re saying things seemingly so at odds with the other, while simultaneously all expressing similar reactions to the side-thread momwifelawyer @ threw in the meleé.
Sickening’s more like it… MT @angieadoptee At the courthouse finalizing infant #adoptions today! #specialday
— 7rin (@7rin) March 19, 2013
@angieadoptee @7rin Bcause you are an adoptee supporting removal of infants from mothers to be adopted by strangers. Stolen identity. Loss.
— Joan Wheeler (@forbiddenfamily) March 19, 2013
@angieadoptee @forbiddenfamily So you’re supporting legalised child abandonment then, & calling it “special” when it happens
— 7rin (@7rin) March 19, 2013
@angieadoptee @forbiddenfamily Usually the case, but voluntary adoption = legalised child abandonment. How can it be anything other?
— 7rin (@7rin) March 19, 2013
@childwelfarelaw @angieadoptee @forbiddenfamily Nothing unusual. It happened to my acousins mid 80s 😦
— 7rin (@7rin) March 19, 2013
@childwelfarelaw @angieadoptee @forbiddenfamily Don’t you know we get booted out if we dare do such things?! Can’t find a post I wanna link
— 7rin (@7rin) March 19, 2013
@7rin @childwelfarelaw @forbiddenfamily agreed. I am actively working to educate against #blankslatetheory everyday.
— Angela Tucker (@angieadoptee) March 19, 2013
@childwelfarelaw @forbiddenfamily @angieadoptee Not helped by the fact that bits of legislation still call us “as if born unto” = feeds myth
— 7rin (@7rin) March 19, 2013
Much as the Establishment don’t like it, we’ve GOT TO do something major about changing the language around adoption is used if we’re ever going to stand a chance of taking some of the socialisation pressures off adoptees.
It’s why I’m so glad Nicky Campbell favourited my tweet pointing him at the thread linked on Adopted in the UK. It means we’re slowly starting to make a difference. And if we can get Nicky C. on side, I see no reason why we can’t start getting Sir Martin Narey to understand a bit more too.