By John K. on September 13, 2010
Not reviewed yet. On the recommended book list.
It can be downloaded for free here: http://people.virginia.edu/~cjp/publications.html
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Charlotte J. Patterson is a Professor in the Department of Psychology and in the Center for Children, Families, and the Law at the University of Virginia. She is also a faculty member and research scientist at the Fenway Institute’s Center for Population Research in LGBT Health in Boston. Her research focuses on the psychology of sexual orientation, with an emphasis on sexual orientation, human development, and family lives. In the context of her research, Patterson has worked with children, adolescents, couples, and families; she is best known for her studies of child development in the context of lesbian- and gay-parented families.
Posted in Books, Publication, Research Tagged Books, Free, Parenting, Recommended list (AAI), Study, USA
By Irish Pink Adoptions on March 12, 2010
What to expect when you're adopting, Dr Ian Palmer,
Vermilion, London, 2009 |
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| Relevance to Ireland |   |
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| The UK system is not the Irish one, but it is getting closer. |
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| Relevance to 'pink adoptions' | |
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| He made clear that for him adoptions is mostly a man/woman concern, even if he acknowledges extensively the existence and validity of single adoptions and LGBT couple's adoptions. There is a very odd passage (page 114) where he puts on the same plan announcing to your parents that you are gay and shoplifting, and assimilates questions in this area by the social worker to a 'shock tactic'. The overall feeling is one of condescension and political correctness that is not quite under control. |
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| Accessibility | |
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| Maybe a bit too condescending, but you will not get lost. Bored maybe, but not lost. |
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| Rigor |  |
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He lost me when he said 'As they say, what does not kill you makes you stronger.' Or when he insist that the questions of the assessment are 'nothing personal' and are just a way for the social worker to discharge themselves of responsibility. How can that be 'the best interest' of the child?
It is symptomatic of the general feel of the book: full of generalizations without real insight or real practicality. Most headings sound like they will help you with a specific issue, but it boils down to: 'the issues exist, be aware of it, expect the issue, find yourself ways to be prepared and seek help if you cannot manage.' If anything it allows to structure your thoughts around your motivations and some of the main steps you will go through. |
| Overall | |
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Not top of my list, but it has it's good moments. You can just read the paragraph headings and seek help from other books, websites, professionals... because that is the core message of the book. It should be called 'When to expect you will need help.'
I would also recommend you read the adoption framework in Ireland first, so you do not get confused with the UK situation. |
Posted in Books, Reviews Tagged Books, Recommended list (AAI), Reviewed, Stage 1, UK
By Irish Pink Adoptions on March 5, 2010
Not reviewed yet. On the AAI recommended DVD list.
Belonging, Li Da Kruger,
Iridescent Films Ltd (Email order), 2003 |
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Posted in Documentary Tagged Cambodia, Recommended list (AAI), Stage 1, UK, Video
By Irish Pink Adoptions on March 4, 2010
Raising adopted children, Lois Ruskai Melina,
Harper Collins, NY (Amazon), 1998 |
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| Relevance to Ireland | |
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| It is not too country specific, but you fell the Americanisms. It contributes to the reassuring element of the book, but makes it a bit distant to a more pragmatic European sensibility. |
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| Relevance to pink adoptions | |
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| Very hetero-centric. It is only relevant to the extent that pink families are just like any families, so all that applies to them applies to us. But we strive to find any recognition of our reality. There is only half a page dealing with LGBT parents: 15 negative lines, and 10 positive ones, articulated by a 'however'. |
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| Accessibility | |
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| Practical and reassuring, as it says on the tin. Also, each heading delivers what is promised: actual real life experience and very touching emotional content. I felt like crying at every page as I coudl easily put myself in the situations described. |
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| Rigor | |
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| To feel the professional touch, without having suffer the heaviness of those who know-it-all. It has just enough fluffiness to showcase its seriousness. It also has an extended biography and listing of support material. |
| Overall | |
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| Very good and sound advice for most, if you can pass the obvious 'Amercanicity' of it all, including cheap spirituality and the buy-in into the racist predjudice of the american society. <br>A must ready, if you can distance yourself from some of the fluff. Worth reading in any case, it is not dealing with processes but with people. It is very much a brain thinking with it's heart type of book. |
Posted in Books, Reviews Tagged Books, Must read, Recommended list (AAI), Reviewed, Stage 1, USA
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