Prof. Goodwin Interviewed by PBS

Professor Michele Bratcher Goodwin was recently interviewed by PBS and quoted in an article about racial and cultural difficulties in both international and domestic adoptions, "Baby Rescue or Baby Factory?" Goodwin suggested that recent controversy in American international adoptions—brought to light by the case of Torry Hansen, who sent her adopted son back to Russia last month—reflects American society to a degree. Goodwin commented on the American trend towards designer families. She highlighted that some parents are more willing to adopt a child of a different race internationally—at a great financial cost—than to domestically adopt a black child in foster care. Goodwin cautioned that adoptive parents often overlook or oversimplify the challenges of raising a child from a different racial or cultural background. She noted the importance of parents acknowledging an adoptee’s cultural context and remaining conscious of cultural dynamics. Goodwin suggested that international adoptions would benefit from a neutral international organization that could implement strict ethical standards in the industry.