6533b834fe1ef96bd129e0fa

RESEARCH PRODUCT

Racialization, Othering, and Coping Among Adult International Adoptees in Finland

Maarit Koskinen

subject

Coping (psychology)Sociology and Political ScienceNoticemedia_common.quotation_subjectQualitative interviewsrasismiselviytymineninternational adoptionPsychological interventionGender studiesta5142Racismcopingracializationta5141otheringRacializationta516SociologyLawracismta515Demographymedia_common

description

This qualitative interview study examined experiences of racialization and coping among 14 adult international adoptees in Finland. The results show that adoptees encounter a range of racializations by which they are made ‘other’ and excluded from Finnishness. Racialization mostly occurs indirectly and subtly, and often by significant others, and consequently is more difficult to cope with. The findings suggest that the Finnish adoption community and adoption research should pay more attention to experiences of racialization among adoptees and take notice of the context-specific nature of coping when supporting adoptees to develop strategies that reduce discrimination and protect their well-being. However, eliminating racism requires interventions at all levels: from the individual to the family, community, and nation. peerReviewed

yearjournalcountryeditionlanguage
2015-07-03Adoption Quarterly
10.1080/10926755.2014.895467https://doi.org/10.1080/10926755.2014.895467