The experiences of Asian American Adoptees .

Sample Solution

    The experiences of Asian American adoptees often involve a complex web of power and systems of oppression. These systems include colonialism, racism, and cultural appropriation. Quotes from the featured adoptees throughout this week’s videos and readings demonstrate how these intersections create unique challenges for those who are adopted into another culture.

One type of power experienced by many Asian American adoptees is economic power. Adoptee Amy Sungmin Kim explains in her video “Reclaimed: A Story About an Adoptee” that her parents had to pay money to adopt her, which she views as “buying [her] life away” (Kim). This illustrates how economics can be used as a form of control and subjugation over minorities within society – specifically, over young Asian girls who were relinquished into adoption due to financial instability or poverty in their home countries. Additionally, since many adoptees grow up disconnected from their original culture, they may experience what Tanya Chen calls “cultural erasure” (Chen) when other aspects of their identity are removed or minimized due to Westernization or assimilation demands placed upon them by adoptive families or societies at large. For example, Jia Hui Lee remarks that although there were times during her childhood where she felt like a fake Chinese person because neither she nor her parents spoke the language (Lee), being able to reconnect with fellow Koreans through social media has enabled her to reclaim some aspects of her heritage. Lastly, gender roles also play an important role in the experiences of many Asian-American adoptees as well; gender roles dictate certain behavior expectations based on assigned sex at birth which can lead to LGBTQ+ exclusion in communities where such expressions are not accepted or celebrated (Ahn & Lee). As Krys describes it: “I think growing up queer can be difficult…because you don't feel seen in both worlds [your adopted family's world and your birth family's world]...it was hard being queer [in my adoptive family] because I didn't have anyone else who looked like me…so I would just hide it away" (Krys). In this case, Krys faced oppressive pressures around expression sexuality while simultaneously facing marginalization due to his identity as an intercountry adoptee – highlighting even further complexity within systems of oppression that affect youth today. Ultimately reclamation for these individuals involves creating space for self-expression regardless if it is met with acceptance from others - reclaiming the personal narrative that has been violently stolen from them through colonization --and actively engaging with cultural practices related to one’s heritage even if they don't necessarily live close by geographically speaking (Lee). It also involves reframing conversations around intercountry adoption so that we can begin recognizing it as a product itself rather than simply viewing it benignly through the lens of humanitarianism (Ahn & Lee). Such change must start within our own communities so we can move towards solidarity between different cultures instead continuing contributing towards systematic violence against marginalized peoples across Asia and abroad.