Global Families: A History of Asian International Adoption in America

Global Families examines the history of Asian international adoption in America from the mid-20th century to the present. The book focuses on adoptions from Asian countries including Korea, Vietnam, China, and the Philippines. Choy traces how wars, natural disasters, and social changes led to increased adoptions of Asian children by American families. She incorporates archival research and interviews with adoptees, adoptive parents, social workers, and adoption agency staff. The narrative explores the role of adoption agencies, religious organizations, and changing U.S. immigration policies in facilitating international adoptions. The experiences and perspectives of birth families, adoptive families, and adoptees reveal complex dynamics around race, culture, and identity. The book offers insight into how Asian international adoption has shaped ideas about family, belonging, and what it means to be American. Through this historical lens, it raises broader questions about transnational adoption practices and their impact on both individuals and society.

Readers describe this book as a detailed academic examination of Asian international adoption in the US, focused heavily on policy, institutions, and social dynamics. Readers appreciated: - Clear explanation of how Cold War politics influenced adoption - Documentation of adoption agencies' marketing tactics - Coverage of media representations and stereotypes - Strong archival research and historical context Common criticisms: - Dense academic writing style limits accessibility - Too much focus on institutions vs personal stories - Limited discussion of adoptee perspectives - Some found chapters repetitive Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (37 ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (8 ratings) Sample review: "While thoroughly researched, the book reads like a dissertation. I hoped for more insight into adoptee experiences rather than administrative history." - Goodreads reviewer Several academic reviewers noted its contributions to Asian American studies but suggested it could have explored more recent developments in international adoption.

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🌏 The book traces how Asian international adoption became the most prominent form of adoption in America, a dramatic shift from the 1940s when most adoptees were white American-born children. 👥 Catherine Ceniza Choy is a professor of Asian American and Asian Diaspora Studies at UC Berkeley and was herself inspired to research this topic after noticing how many of her Asian American students were adoptees. ✈️ The practice of Asian international adoption largely began during the Korean War, when American military personnel encountered orphaned Korean children and brought attention to their plight back home. 📝 The term "proxy adoption" emerged during this period, allowing American parents to adopt children without traveling overseas by having representatives handle the legal proceedings in Asia. 🤝 The book reveals how social workers, religious organizations, and adoption agencies worked together across continents to create networks that facilitated thousands of adoptions, fundamentally changing the face of American families.