What are Unethical Adoption Practices? Is Adoption a Cult?

How are you supposed to know if you are a part of ethical or unethical adoption practices as a small adopted child? How can you trust that you are not getting "well intended bad advice"? You have to educate yourself and understand what emotional blackmailing is and what it is not, I was emotionally blackmailed from birth to believe I was the problem and If I said anything other than "I am saved and really grateful for my adoption" I would be shamed and punished even in professional therapy sessions. This has costed many lives of adoptees who unfortunately were stuck in the Adoption FOG, please educate yourselves on adoption trauma and relinquishment trauma.
No, adoption is not a cult. Adoption is a legal and social process through which an individual or couple takes on the parental role for a child who is not biologically their own. The goal of adoption is to provide a stable and loving home for children who, for various reasons, cannot be cared for by their biological parents. It is generally motivated by compassion, a desire to build a family, or to help children in need.
The term “cult,” on the other hand, refers to a group with extreme devotion to a leader, ideology, or belief system, often characterized by manipulative or harmful practices. Comparing adoption to a cult would be inaccurate and misrepresentative.
Unethical adoption refers to adoption practices that violate legal, moral, or ethical standards. These practices exploit children, birth families, or adoptive families, often prioritizing profit or personal gain over the well-being of the child. Some common examples include:
1. Coercion of Birth Parents
• Pressuring or manipulating birth parents into giving up their child without fully understanding their rights or options.
• Exploiting vulnerable circumstances, such as poverty, to persuade parents to surrender their child.
2. Trafficking and Abduction
• Kidnapping or illegally obtaining children to sell them for adoption.
• Misrepresenting or falsifying the child’s circumstances to make them available for adoption.
3. Fraudulent Practices
• Misleading adoptive parents or birth parents about the child’s background, health, or legal status.
• Charging exorbitant, hidden, or illegal fees under the guise of “adoption expenses.”
4. Cultural and Racial Exploitation
• Ignoring or erasing a child’s cultural identity, heritage, or connections to their community.
• Facilitating international adoptions without respecting the laws or ethical guidelines of the child’s home country.
5. Lack of Post-Adoption Support
• Failing to ensure that adoptive families have the resources and support needed to care for the child.
• Neglecting to prioritize the child’s long-term well-being.
6. Unregulated or Unethical Agencies
• Agencies operating without oversight, often cutting corners or bypassing legal requirements.
• Facilitating “re-homing,” where children are informally transferred to new families without proper vetting or legal procedures.
7. Adoption for Ulterior Motives
• Adopting for reasons other than the child’s welfare, such as gaining domestic help, financial benefits, or personal status.
Consequences of Unethical Adoption
• Trauma and loss for birth parents and adopted children.
• Broken trust between adoptive families and the adoption community.
• Legal ramifications for those involved in unethical practices.
Ensuring ethical adoption involves transparency, informed consent, respect for all parties, and prioritizing the best interests of the child. Advocacy for stricter regulations and oversight is essential to prevent unethical practices.