Changing Patterns of Intercountry Adoption

• In Event: 381 - Section on the Sociology of the Family Refereed Roundtable Session and Business Meeting
  In Refereed Roundtable 60min: Table 01. Parenthood

Abstract

The decline during the first decade of the 21st century notwithstanding, intercountry adoption had been a viable option for family formation for many American families. Using recent data from the American Community Survey 2008-2012, we ask: Has the likelihood of parents adopting a child whose race matches their own changed? How is the likelihood of parents adopting a child of a specific race influenced by the other characteristics of the adopted child and their own characteristics? The results show that adoptive parents continue to balance various characteristics of children – age, sex, and health condition. Moreover, this study finds that the sequence of adoption influences the likelihood of adopting the same race children by white parents.

Authors

• Hiromi Ishizawa, George Washington University

• Kazuyo Kubo, Lesley University

• Gillian Stevens, University of Alberta