Adoption Deception

Adoption Deception: A personal and professional journey is a passionate account of one woman's life as an adopted person and her campaign for change. It unravels the complexity, debunks myths, analyzes policies, and raises important questions about the ethical and human rights dilemmas in adoption. The author presents a compelling argument for Permanent Care instead of adoption for vulnerable children.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 178 pages
Publication date: 02 April 2023
Publisher: Spinifex Press

What is it like to be adopted, have your identity changed, and never feel quite at home in your new family, despite being loved?

Being adopted can be a complex and challenging experience that can leave individuals feeling disconnected and uncertain about their place in their new family. Despite the love and support of their new parents, adoptees may struggle to fully integrate into their new lives and may struggle with feelings of identity loss, grief, and confusion. They may question their origins, cultural heritage, and sense of belonging, and may feel like they do not fully fit into their new family. This can lead to feelings of isolation, anxiety, and depression, and may require ongoing support and therapy to address these issues.

What is it like to become a social worker and be faced with the challenges and consequences of other adoptions every day?

Working as a social worker in the field of adoption can be incredibly challenging and emotionally taxing. Social workers are responsible for facilitating adoptions, ensuring that they are conducted in a fair and ethical manner, and providing support to both adoptees and their families. However, they are also faced with the ongoing consequences of other adoptions, such as birth parents who may change their minds or children who may experience difficulties adjusting to their new lives. Social workers must navigate complex legal and ethical issues, such as matching children with appropriate families, ensuring that birth parents have the right to make informed decisions about their children, and addressing the emotional and psychological needs of both adoptees and their families.

What is it like to hear the moving National Apology for Forced Adoptions by Prime Minister Julia Gillard in 2013 only to be faced a few months later by a new prime minister intent on forgetting all the lessons learnt and championing a deregulated parent-centred market-driven adoption industry?

In 2013, Prime Minister Julia Gillard delivered a National Apology for Forced Adoptions, acknowledging the harm that forced adoptions had caused to many Australian families over the years. The apology was a significant step towards acknowledging the trauma and pain that adoptees and their families had experienced and was a testament to the growing recognition of the importance of ethical and transparent adoption practices. However, just a few months later, a new prime minister was elected, and there was a significant shift in policy towards a deregulated parent-centred market-driven adoption industry. This policy shift was met with concern by many who believed that it could lead to the exploitation of vulnerable children and birth parents and could undermine the ethical and transparent practices that were essential to ensuring the well-being of all involved in adoption.

Penny Mackieson takes us on her journey with the unique perspective of both the adopted person and a professional who worked in intercountry adoption for over a decade.

Penny Mackieson is a woman who was adopted as a child and has since dedicated her life to advocating for ethical and transparent adoption practices. She has worked as a social worker in the field of intercountry adoption and has witnessed firsthand the challenges and consequences of other adoptions. In her book, Adoption Deception: A personal and professional journey, Mackieson shares her own story of adoption and her campaign for change. She unravels the complexity of adoption, debunks the myths and misconceptions that surround it, and analyses the policies and practices that have contributed to the ongoing ethical and human rights dilemmas in adoption.

Mackieson presents a compelling argument for Permanent Care instead of adoption for vulnerable children unable to be raised by their families. She argues that adoption should be considered a last resort, rather than a solution to all parenting challenges. Permanent Care provides children with the stability, support, and nurturing that they need to grow and thrive, and can help to address the root causes of child maltreatment and neglect.

Adoption Deception: A personal and professional journey is a passionate, heart-wrenching, and unflinchingly honest account of one woman's life as an adopted person and her campaign for change. It is a must-read for anyone who is interested in adoption, social work, or the ethical and human rights dilemmas in adoption. By sharing her own story and advocating for Permanent Care, Mackieson has contributed to the ongoing conversation about the best way to support vulnerable children and families.

Weight: 214g
Dimension: 217 x 139 x 17 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781742199740