Professional Discourses on Single Parenthood in International Adoptions in Spain

Bibliographic Data

ID18950010
AuthorsD Poveda (0000-0003-1081-2945, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, corresponding author), M I J Rubio (0000-0002-1749-6685, Universidad Complutense de Madrid), María Isabel Jociles (Universidad Complutense de Madrid), Ana María Rivas (0000-0003-1675-6163, Universidad Complutense de Madrid), Ana María Rivas Rivas (Universidad Complutense de Madrid)
Year2013
Volume36
Issue1
Pages35-55
Publication date2013-05-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenuePoLAR Political and Legal Anthropology Review (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1081-6976 • E-ISSN: 1555-2934
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/plar.12002
OpenAlexW2109915329
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited22

This article examines psychologists’ and social workers’ discourses in relation to international adoptions by single parents in Spain. The analysis suggests that these professionals, who play a key role in moving forward (or not) the adoption process, work with a distinctive notion of “the best interest of the child” in which a heterosexual couple is taken as the normative referent of parental and family relations. The principle of the child's best interest is explicitly defined at the legislative level and is incorporated as part of child protection policies, though in interview discourses it intertwines with many other themes. Our analysis uncovered some diversity in psychologists’ and social workers’ discourses, which seem to be tied to their professional and experiential background, though an argument that portrays single parenthood in negative terms dominates their views. These representations are developed even though the available evidence from post‐adoption assessments does not support such bias

Legislature · Normative · Political science · Referent · Sociology · Child Welfare and Adoption · Children's Rights and Participation · Ethics and Legal Issues in Pediatric Healthcare · Gender Studies · Law · Psychology · Social Psychology

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