Out of Place: The Lives of Korean Adoptee Immigrants

Korean adoptees, who were once seen as adoptable orphans, have now become deportable immigrants due to legal, cultural, and social challenges. SunAh M Laybourn's book "Out of Place" explores this journey, focusing on the race-making process and the contradictions of the model minority myth. It highlights how Korean adoptees understand their racial positions, reconcile expectations, and redefine belonging, bringing to light the features of the race-making process.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 240 pages
Publication date: 15 January 2024
Publisher: New York University Press

Since the early 1950s, over 125,000 Korean children have been adopted in the United States, primarily by white families. Korean adoptees are the largest group of transracial adoptees currently in adulthood, accounting for twenty-five percent of US transnational adoptions. Despite being legally adopted, Korean adoptees' position as family members did not automatically ensure legal, cultural, or social citizenship. Korean adoptees routinely experience refusals of belonging, whether by state agents, laws, and regulations, in everyday interactions, or even through media portrayals that render them invisible.

In her book "Out of Place," SunAh M Laybourn, herself a Korean American adoptee, examines this long-term journey, with a particular focus on the race-making process and the contradictions inherent to the model minority myth. Drawing on in-depth interviews with Korean adoptee adults, online surveys, and participant observation at Korean adoptee events across the US and in Korea, Out of Place illustrates how Korean adoptees come to understand their racial positions, reconcile competing expectations of citizenship and racial and ethnic group membership, and actively work to redefine belonging both individually and collectively. In considering when and how Korean adoptees have been remade, rejected, and celebrated as exceptional citizens, Out of Place brings to the fore the features of the race-making process.

Korean adoptees have faced a complex and multifaceted journey, navigating the challenges of being both adopted and Korean. They have been celebrated as model minorities, expected to excel in education and career, and assimilate into white American culture. However, this narrative often overlooks the experiences of Korean adoptees who face racism, discrimination, and marginalization within their own communities and broader society.

One of the key issues facing Korean adoptees is the struggle to establish a sense of belonging. Many adoptees report feeling like outsiders, disconnected from their Korean heritage and culture. This can lead to feelings of isolation, depression, and anxiety, as they struggle to reconcile their dual identities and find a place within the larger American society.

Another challenge is the race-making process, which involves the construction of racial identities and the assignment of racial categories. Korean adoptees are often categorized as Asian or Asian American, but this can be problematic as it perpetuates stereotypes and reinforces the idea that Asians are interchangeable and homogeneous. This can lead to discrimination and marginalization, as Korean adoptees are perceived as less American and more foreign.

Laybourn's book "Out of Place" explores these issues in depth, using a combination of personal narratives, academic research, and cultural analysis. She highlights the experiences of Korean adoptees who have faced discrimination, marginalization, and rejection, and explores the ways in which they have resisted and challenged these narratives.

One of the key themes of the book is the importance of reclaiming Korean heritage and culture. Laybourn argues that Korean adoptees should not be forced to choose between their Korean identity and their American identity, but rather that they can embrace both and create a new hybrid identity that is true to their experiences.

She also highlights the role of the Korean American community in supporting and advocating for Korean adoptees. Korean American organizations have played a crucial role in providing resources, support, and community for adoptees, and in challenging the stereotypes and assumptions that perpetuate discrimination and marginalization.

Laybourn's book is a powerful and important contribution to the field of adoption and race studies. It provides a nuanced and empathetic understanding of the experiences of Korean adoptees, and challenges the dominant narratives that perpetuate discrimination and marginalization. It is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the complexities of adoption, race, and identity, and in working towards a more inclusive and equitable society.

In conclusion, Korean adoptees have faced a complex and multifaceted journey, navigating the challenges of being both adopted and Korean. They have been celebrated as model minorities, expected to excel in education and career, and assimilate into white American culture. However, this narrative often overlooks the experiences of Korean adoptees who face racism, discrimination, and marginalization within their own communities and broader society.

Laybourn's book "Out of Place" explores these issues in depth, using a combination of personal narratives, academic research, and cultural analysis. It highlights the experiences of Korean adoptees who have faced discrimination, marginalization, and rejection, and explores the ways in which they have resisted and challenged these narratives. The book emphasizes the importance of reclaiming Korean heritage and culture, and the role of the Korean American community in supporting and advocating for Korean adoptees. It is a powerful and important contribution to the field of adoption and race studies, and a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the complexities of adoption, race, and identity, and in working towards a more inclusive and equitable society.

Weight: 417g
Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781479814787