Families We Need: Disability, Abandonment, and Foster Care's Resistance in Contemporary China

Based on ethnographic fieldwork in the remote Guangxi Autonomous Region, Families We Need explores the movement of three Chinese foster children and the hardships of social abandonment and disenfranchisement for disabled children and older women. It argues that Chinese foster families perform a necessary service to the state but also resist these forces, exposing inequalities, privilege, and ableism in global family-making.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 220 pages
Publication date: 11 November 2022
Publisher: Rutgers University Press

Based on extensive ethnographic fieldwork conducted in the remote and mountainous Guangxi Autonomous Region, Families We Need delves into the journey of three Chinese foster children: Dengrong, Pei Pei, and Meili. Their transition from the state orphanage to the humble foster homes of Auntie Li, Auntie Ma, and Auntie Huang is intricately documented, spanning the diverse geography of Guangxi, from the modern capital Nanning, where Pei Pei and Meili reside, to the small farming village several hours away, where Dengrong finds his place. Through this ethnography, the author sheds light on the hardships faced by disabled children and older women in China, particularly those who have been abandoned by society. At the same time, it analyzes the state's efforts to address these marginalized populations and integrate them into China's modern future.

The book makes a compelling argument that Chinese foster families play a vital yet often invisible role in supporting the Chinese state and international adoption. However, the bonds forged between foster families and the children they care for resist these forces, revealing the inequalities, privilege, and ableism that underpin global family-making.

The journey of Dengrong, Pei Pei, and Meili serves as a poignant testament to the resilience and strength of human connections, even in the face of adversity. Their stories highlight the importance of compassion, understanding, and support for those who are marginalized and forgotten by society. By shedding light on the experiences of these foster children and their families, Families We Need contributes to a broader understanding of the complexities and challenges of family formation in the modern world.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781978829299