Background

After three decades of international adoptions, China announced an end to its program in September. For years, this initiative enabled thousands of children, many originally thought to have been abandoned, to be adopted abroad, with a significant portion finding homes in the United States. The sudden decision has reverberated throughout the adoption community, drawing a range of responses from those directly affected, especially families still navigating the adoption process.

Adoptee Reactions: Complex Perspectives

For adoptees themselves, many of whom are now adults, China’s decision to end international adoptions has elicited mixed emotions. While adoptees recognize the security and opportunities gained from their adoptions, they also feel a level of relief that the program has ended. Their responses reflect an understanding of the complex impacts of these adoptions, including challenges to personal identity and assimilation, as well as lingering ethical concerns.

Most adoptees credit their adoptive families with providing love and stability, and they often acknowledge the opportunities made possible by their adoptions. However, they also point to longstanding issues within the system, including incidents of child trafficking and exploitation by agencies that sought to profit from international adoptions. Many adoptees say they support China’s decision, noting the challenges of growing up in a different culture and grappling with questions of personal identity.

Growing Up Transracially and Transnationally

The experience of growing up as a Chinese adoptee in predominantly white communities was often marked by cultural isolation and incidents of racism. For many, there were few “racial mirrors,” or people of similar ethnic backgrounds, which contributed to a sense of cultural displacement. Although some parents attempted to connect their children with Chinese culture through community programs or summer camps, these efforts were limited in scope. For adoptees, these experiences often resulted in a blend of gratitude for their lives abroad and sadness over the disconnect from their birth culture.

The One-Child Policy, which enforced strict family planning limits, indirectly fueled China’s international adoption program by resulting in an influx of abandoned children, primarily girls. This policy was driven by longstanding cultural preferences that valued boys as family heirs, leading many adoptees to grapple with feelings of displacement. While they appreciate the opportunities gained through adoption, many feel a profound sense of loss regarding the connections to their birth families and culture.

Mental Health and Identity: Long-Term Effects

Research indicates that transnational and transracial adoptees may face elevated risks of depression and anxiety compared to non-adoptees. This mental health impact is often tied to identity struggles and the initial trauma of separation. Many adoptees describe their experiences as a lifetime of unanswered questions about their origins, which can lead to ongoing psychological challenges. Professionals working with adoptees encourage a nuanced view of adoption, acknowledging both its positive aspects and the unresolved feelings of loss it may bring.

A Defining Decision for a Unique Community

For the global community of Chinese adoptees, the end of international adoptions from China feels like the closing of a chapter. Some adoptees, while supportive of the decision, express concerns about how their unique experiences will be viewed in the future, as their demographic group becomes a finite part of history.

International Context and Broader Implications

China’s decision occurs amid rising scrutiny of international adoption programs, particularly in countries like South Korea, where investigations have uncovered questionable practices by agencies involved in transnational adoptions. Many adoptees now acknowledge the contradictions of their experiences — finding gratitude for their lives abroad while recognizing systemic flaws within the adoption framework.

As international attitudes toward adoption continue to evolve, the experiences of Chinese adoptees provide valuable insights into both the rewards and the complexities of these transnational programs. The end of China’s program marks a significant shift, leaving many adoptees to reflect on the system’s legacy while adapting to a future that no longer includes international adoptions from their country of origin.