Familial Fitness: Disability, Adoption, and Family in Modern America

Familial Fitness is the first social history of disability and difference in American adoption, from the Progressive Era to the end of the twentieth century. It explores how disability operates as a fundamental category in the making of the American family, tracing major shifts in policy, practice, and attitudes about the adoptability of disabled children. It also examines how notions and practices of adoption have accommodated and haven't accommodated disability and how the language of risk enters into that complicated relationship.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 368 pages
Publication date: 21 January 2022
Publisher: The University of Chicago Press

The first comprehensive social history of disability and difference in American adoption, spanning from the Progressive Era to the end of the twentieth century. Disability and child welfare, intertwined and distinct, remain critical issues in American society. Presently, approximately 125,000 children in foster care are eligible for adoption, with many waiting over two years to find a permanent home. Children with disabilities, unfortunately, face even longer wait times. In her book, Familial Fitness, Sandra M. Sufian delves into the profound ways in which disability shapes the American family, tracing significant shifts in policy, practice, and attitudes toward the adoptability of disabled children throughout the twentieth century.

Chronicling the long and intricate history of disability, Familial Fitness explores how notions and practices of adoption have grappled with—and sometimes failed to accommodate—disability. It also examines the intricate interplay between risk and the concept of adoption. Through her meticulous research, Sufian unveils how the field of adoption evolved from largely excluding children with disabilities in the early twentieth century to partially including them at its close. As she traces this historical trajectory, Sufian delves into the forces that shaped and continue to shape access to the social institution of family, prompting readers to reexamine the very essence of family itself.

Familial Fitness offers a groundbreaking perspective on the intersection of disability, adoption, and family life, shedding light on the complex dynamics that have shaped American society over the past century. It is a must-read for scholars, policymakers, and anyone interested in understanding the complexities of disability, adoption, and the broader social landscape.

Weight: 552g
Dimension: 153 x 229 x 27 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780226808703