Blog
Savior Complex
A couple of years ago, I was talking on the phone with my good friend, Rahel. During this particular conversation, I was telling her why another one of my friends was mad at me. In my mind, I had a bulletproof thesis. I explained to Rahel all of the reasons that...
How to Break the Saviorism Mentality in Adoption
It’s important to recognize and acknowledge that adoption is about providing a loving and stable home for a child, not about "saving" them. As adoptive parents, there are several steps we can take to break the “saviorism mentality” and better support our adoptee(s)....
The Importance of Checking Unconscious Saviorism in Adoption
Almost every humanitarian effort incorporates the concept of saviorism. Saviorism is defined as the act of helping someone in a self-serving way. It’s a word that evokes strong emotions and opinions, but instead of becoming defensive or accusatory, how can we talk...
Myths and Expectations of Adoption
I grew up watching and hearing how the world perceived adoption. Movies would start with a little girl or boy sitting in an orphanage abandoned by their parents, waiting anxiously for their new parents to arrive. The child would make their bed perfectly and use the...
Stigmas That Surround Adoption
I knew as a young girl, that I would one day build a family through the act of adoption. I did not necessarily know how that would look. Would I marry and have biological children and adopt, or just adopt? I just knew that I wanted to adopt; being an adoptee was...
How Adoption History Influences Modern Misconceptions
To understand adoption and why so many birth mothers advocate for reform, one must understand the history of adoption. While there is so much to be said about how our modern understanding of adoption came to be, I’m going to focus on the early misconceptions of...
Being Married To An Adoptee
Question: When you first started dating your girlfriend; your current wife, did you think about how being married to an adoptee would affect your relationship? Husband: No, not really. I did not have any expectations or preconceived notions. My wife and I met in high...