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Voicing the System: How Formerly Fostered Adults Make Meaning of the U.S. Foster Care System

Sat, May 26, 14:00 to 15:15, Hilton Old Town, Floor: M, Dvorak I

Abstract

The present study utilizes relational dialectics theory to examine the ways adults who resided in foster care in their youth discursively construct meanings of the foster care system. Contrapuntal analysis of 32 narrative interviews revealed two discourses as competing to construct meaning of the system: the Discourse of System as Helpful (DSH) and the Discourse of System as Broken (DSB). Participants’ talk recognized the necessity of the system, but themes of providing protection and safety, creating stability, and being comprised by “good” individuals constructed the DSH as a necessary good. Conversely, themes of harming individuals and families, inconsistency and imperfection, and under-supported/unsupportive collective constructed the DSB as a necessary evil. Throughout the data corpus, the DSH was positioned as the culturally dominant understanding, yet the DSB is voiced as privileged subculturally, by those who resided in the system. Theoretical and practical implications of the findings are discussed.

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