Global Families: A History of Asian International Adoption in America (Nation of Nations, 8)

In the last fifty years, transnational adoption--specifically, the adoption of Asian children--has exploded in popularity as an alternative path to family making. Despite the cultural acceptance of this practice, surprisingly little attention has been paid to the factors that allowed Asian international adoption to flourish. In Global Families, Catherine Ceniza Choy unearths the little-known historical origins of Asian international adoption in the United States. Beginning with the post-World War II presence of the U.S. military in Asia, she reveals how mixed-race children born of Japanese, Korean, and Vietnamese women and U.S. servicemen comprised one of the earliest groups of adoptive children. Based on extensive archival research, Global Families moves beyond one-dimensional portrayals of Asian international adoption as either a progressive form of U.S. multiculturalism or as an exploitative form of cultural and economic imperialism. Rather, Choy acknowledges the complexity of the phenomenon, illuminating both its radical possibilities of a world united across national, cultural, and racial divides through family formation and its strong potential for reinforcing the very racial and cultural hierarchies it sought to challenge. Catherine Ceniza Choy is Professor of Ethnic Studies at the University of California, Berkeley. She is the author of the award-winning book Empire of Care: Nursing and Migration in Filipino American History. "How has the sight of a little Asian girl with a white American family become so commonplace? In Catherine Ceniza Choys sensitive and absorbing study, we learn that transnational adoptions reveal the intertwined stories not only of war, race, foreign policy, liberalism, and immigration, but also of intimacy, loss, and reconciliation. Choy highlights the human, non-governmental, and personal ways in which Americas relationships with the world has touched and shaped us." -Naoko Shibusawa, Brown University In The Last Fifty Years, Transnational Adoption--specifically, The Adoption Of Asian Children--has Exploded In Popularity As An Alternative Path To Family Making. Despite The Cultural Acceptance Of This Practice, Surprisingly Little Attention Has Been Paid To The Factors That Allowed Asian International Adoption To Flourish. In Global Families, Catherine Ceniza Choy Unearths The Little-known Historical Origins Of Asian International Adoption In The United States. Beginning With The Post-world War Ii Presence Of The U.s. Military In Asia, She Reveals How Mixed-race Children Born Of Japanese, Korean, And Vietnamese Women And U.s. Servicemen Comprised One Of The Earliest Groups Of Adoptive Children. Based On Extensive Archival Research, Global Families Moves Beyond One-dimensional Portrayals Of Asian International Adoption As Either A Progressive Form Of U.s. Multiculturalism Or As An Exploitative Form Of Cultural And Economic Imperialism. Rather, Choy Acknowledges The Complexity Of The Phenomenon, Illuminating Both Its Radical Possibilities Of A World United Across National, Cultural, And Racial Divides Through Family Formation And Its Strong Potential For Reinforcing The Very Racial And Cultural Hierarchies It Sought To Challenge. -- Publisher Website. Race And Rescue In Early Asian International Adoption History -- The Hong Kong Project: Chinese International Adoption In The United States In The 1950s And 1960s -- A World Vision : The Labor Of Asian International Adoption -- Global Family Making : Narratives By And About Adoptive Families -- To Make Historical Their Own Stories : Adoptee Narratives As Asian American History -- Conclusion : New Geographies, Historical Legacies. Catherine Ceniza Choy. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. In the last fifty years, transnational adoption--specifically, the adoption of Asian children--has exploded in popularity as an alternative path to family making. Despite the cultural acceptance of this practice, surprisingly little attention has been paid to the factors that allowed Asian international adoption to flourish. In Global Families, Catherine Ceniza Choy unearths the little-known historical origins of Asian international adoption in the United States. Beginning with the post-World War II presence of the U.S. military in Asia, she reveals how mixed-race children born of Japanese, Korean, and Vietnamese women and U.S. servicemen comprised one of the earliest groups of adoptive children. Based on extensive archival research, Global Families moves beyond one-dimensional portrayals of Asian international adoption as either a progressive form of U.S. multiculturalism or as an exploitative form of cultural and economic imperialism. Rather, Choy acknowledges the complexity of the phenomenon, illuminating both its radical possibilities of a world united across national, cultural, and racial divides through family formation and its strong potential for reinforcing the very racial and cultural hierarchies it sought to challenge. -- Résumé de l'éditeur In the last fifty years, transnational adoption - specifically, the adoption of Asian children - has exploded in popularity as an alternative path to family making. Despite the cultural acceptance of this practice, surprisingly little attention has been paid to the factors that allowed Asian international adoption to flourish. In this book, the author unearths the little-known historical origins of Asian international adoption in the United States. Beginning with the post-World War II presence of the U.S. military in Asia, she reveals how mixed-race children born of Japanese, Korean, and Vietnamese women and U.S. servicemen comprised one of the earliest groups of adoptive children. Based on extensive archival research, this book moves beyond one-dimensional portrayals of Asian international adoption as either a progressive form of U.S. multiculturalism or as an exploitative form of cultural and economic imperialism. Rather, the author acknowledges the complexity of the phenomenon, illuminating both its radical possibilities of a world united across national, cultural, and racial divides through family formation and its strong potential for reinforcing the very racial and cultural hierarchies it sought to challenge. -- Publisher website In the last fifty years, transnational adoption—specifically, the adoption of Asian children—has exploded in popularity as an alternative path to family making. Despite the cultural acceptance of this practice, surprisingly little attention has been paid to the factors that allowed Asian international adoption to flourish. This book unearths the little-known historical origins of Asian international adoption in the United States. Beginning with the post-World War II presence of the US military in Asia, it reveals how mixed-race children born of Japanese, Korean, and Vietnamese women and US servicemen comprised one of the earliest groups of adoptive children. The book moves beyond one-dimensional portrayals of Asian international adoption as either a progressive form of US multiculturalism or as an exploitative form of cultural and economic imperialism. Rather, it acknowledges the complexity of the phenomenon, illuminating both its radical possibilities of a world united across national, cultural, and racial divides through family formation and its strong potential for reinforcing the very racial and cultural hierarchies it sought to challenge