Background Information of Korean-Adoptees
The Beginning
After the Korean War, many children were separate from their family or were given to orphanage because their family couldn’t afford to take care of them. It was estimate that there were over 100,000 children left orphaned, and over 10,000 mix-races children abandoned. Adoption practices such as "Holt Adoption Agency" between United States and South Korea started to occur.
Many American families would start adopting Korean children or donated money to orphanage. Many people believed that the American families would give the Korean children a better life and future than the life they have in South Korea. Another reason because many domestic adoption in Korea was decreasing, and there wasn’t many children in America that families were able to adopt so that is why international adoption increase in Korea and many other countries. The 1980s was the era where many Korean adoption have happened.
As for today, most Korean children who are send for adoption are mostly single mothers. Single mother are pressured to send their children away because of their culture. According to research it shows that children raised by a single parent are most likely to be bullied by their peers at school. Many Korean mothers are ostracized, they don't have the income to raise their children because they are still going to school and the government offer little or no aid to single mothers.
Many American families would start adopting Korean children or donated money to orphanage. Many people believed that the American families would give the Korean children a better life and future than the life they have in South Korea. Another reason because many domestic adoption in Korea was decreasing, and there wasn’t many children in America that families were able to adopt so that is why international adoption increase in Korea and many other countries. The 1980s was the era where many Korean adoption have happened.
As for today, most Korean children who are send for adoption are mostly single mothers. Single mother are pressured to send their children away because of their culture. According to research it shows that children raised by a single parent are most likely to be bullied by their peers at school. Many Korean mothers are ostracized, they don't have the income to raise their children because they are still going to school and the government offer little or no aid to single mothers.
Identity of Korean-Adoptee
They experienced some form of racial prejudice or discrimination from schoolmates, strangers, or even relatives of their adopted family. Because their adoptive families and parents either could not shield them from this almost inevitable process, or could not adequately understand or support their feelings, many of these adopted Asians experienced an "identity crisis." Many struggle to find their place in society. They are conflict on what kind of person they really are and feel comfortable being.
This kind of cultural confusion frequently involved a viscous cycle in which the parent would unconsciously reinforce Whiteness in socializing their child, but on occasion expose them to Asian culture. Most adoptees are raised in culture that are within her or his adopted parents. The child frequently resisted such efforts because they seemed too different from their "honorary White" lifestyle, and they didn't want to be seen as different. This resistance to Asian culture reinforced and perpetuated the honorary White status. Most Korean adoptees are full-blooded Korean, who looks different from their American adopted family. This will help them understand that they have been raised from a white family and communities, but have an Asian background.
This kind of cultural confusion frequently involved a viscous cycle in which the parent would unconsciously reinforce Whiteness in socializing their child, but on occasion expose them to Asian culture. Most adoptees are raised in culture that are within her or his adopted parents. The child frequently resisted such efforts because they seemed too different from their "honorary White" lifestyle, and they didn't want to be seen as different. This resistance to Asian culture reinforced and perpetuated the honorary White status. Most Korean adoptees are full-blooded Korean, who looks different from their American adopted family. This will help them understand that they have been raised from a white family and communities, but have an Asian background.
Korean Adoptee Experience
Compare to immigration experiences, Korean adoptees grow up in a stable middle-class white families. It is more easier for them to assimilate into the American culture and values. But overall,the adoptee parents of the children try their best to educate them about their culture and origin. But in come cases, many of the adopted parents believe their children should assimilated into their world of whiteness, which could lead to the adoptees forgetting about their Korean origin. This could lead to many adoptee experience identity crisis and complication of this crisis because they do not look like their adopted parents. One reason because they are remind by others by outside their adopted family that they are different.
Many Korean adoptee were not able to connect with other Korean Americans because there were none or little around their community that they lived in.
Many Korean adoptee were not able to connect with other Korean Americans because there were none or little around their community that they lived in.