From humanitarianism to family building: Genres of security implications of child adoption as a management strategy for infertility
International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy
ISSN: 0144-333X
Article publication date: 7 January 2019
Issue publication date: 2 April 2019
Abstract
Purpose
Adoption practice is originally designed as a live-saving option for some category of children. In recent times, this purpose has been challenged by several social, biological and cultural exigencies. Hence, a notable morphing of the practice to satisfying adopters’ need has been observed, however, requiring further interrogations. The paper aims to discuss these issues.
Design/methodology/approach
Data were collected through sessions of interviews with six adoption officials (social workers), four orphanage managers, three legal practitioners and 13 prospective and successful adopters, across three selected states.
Findings
The study records contemporary adoption practices as mostly a management strategy for infertility by bringing to fore diverse narratives that reveal adoption as now primarily construed, subconsciously implemented and ultimately serving in many ways as the social security mechanism for adopters than for securing the children who are to be adopted.
Social implications
This by implication results in poor adoptive parent–child bonding, disservice and maltreatments in diverse ways.
Originality/value
This study heralds the “rebranded” security benefits of adoption and enlarges the scope and genres of social security implications of child adoption in the contemporary Nigerian society.
Keywords
Citation
Onayemi, O.M. (2019), "From humanitarianism to family building: Genres of security implications of child adoption as a management strategy for infertility", International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy, Vol. 39 No. 3/4, pp. 264-275. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSSP-09-2018-0148
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2019, Emerald Publishing Limited