Today we’re talking with Gretchen Sisson, a research sociologist with Advancing New Standards in Reproductive Health (ANSIRH) in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences at the University of California, San Francisco. She is the author of Relinquished: The Politics of Adoption and the Privilege of American Motherhood, a critical, ten-year examination of domestic adoption. Centering on the stories of relinquishing mothers, the book chronicles America's refusal to care for families at the most basic level, and instead allows cultural and political ideas of adoption to advance an individual, private solution to large-scale social problems.
In our conversation, we discuss the function of adoption in society, its representation in popular culture, and the experiences of birth mothers. We explore the stereotypes and tropes perpetuated by modern adoption stories in TV and film like in shows like This is Us and 16 and Pregnant, and the impact of these narratives on societal biases and policies. We also talk about how the women who Gretchen spoke with feel like The Handmaid’s Tale is the closest representation of their experience of relinquishing their child. We then delve into the complexities of adoption, the historical context of pre-Roe adoption, and the consequences for birth mothers and relinquished children.
This discussion explores the complexities of adoption, highlighting the experiences and perspectives of birth mothers as captured in Gretchen Sisson's new book. It delves into the emotional journey of birth mothers, their hopes and expectations, as well as the challenges and grief they face. The conversation also touches on the impact of adoption on adoptees, particularly in terms of trauma and identity. It further discusses the connection between adoption and reproductive justice, and the need to critically examine the narratives and beliefs surrounding adoption. Our discussion concludes with a discussion on the potential of pop culture to shape a more nuanced and inclusive narrative around adoption.
Here is a link to find out more about Gretchen's book: https://www.relinquishedbook.com/
DOWNLOAD THE TRANSCRIPT: https://braaainspodcast.com/s/Braaains-Podcast-EP048-transcript-The-Handmaids-Tale-This-is-Us-and-Adoption.pdf
Listen to our companion episode on Dispelling Myths of Transracial Adoption in Media here: https://braaainspodcast.com/episodes/transracialadoption
Contact us: BraaainsPodcast.com
Follow: @BraaainsPodcast
Music: @_Deppisch_
Support this show: Patreon.com/BraaainsPodcast
Impostor Syndrome in Cyrano de Bergerac
Depression in Film and TV
Depression: A conversation with the creators of CBC Gem’s Get Up, Aisha
Breaking the Stigmas and Preparing for Menopause
Navigating Menopause: Fleabag, Sex and the City, and Girlfriends’ Guide to Divorce
Dispelling Myths of Transracial Adoption in Media w/ Dr. Jill L. Creighton
Working with disability and mental health consultants
Vision Loss and Blindness on Sight Unseen
BPD and Mental Health Representation in My Crazy Ex-Girlfriend
Atlanta, Insecure, and Bipolar Disorder
A Little Advice for the Holidays
Causeway and Traumatic Brain Injury
Investigating Inequality Across Film and TV with the Annenberg Inclusion Initiative
The Conjuring, Paranormal Activity, and Our Obsession with Ghost Stories
Midsommar, Charlie Says, and the Reality of Cults
You're Not Alone: When and How to Disclose
You're Not Alone: The Road to Diagnosis
You’re Not Alone: How Stigma Hurts Everyone
You're Not Alone: Navigating Life with Mental Illness (trailer)
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
The Multiverse Fancast
Cinema: A to B
I Finally Watched...
Kill James Bond!
Pod Meets World