Discourses and Themes in Adoption and Child Welfare Policies and Practices in the U.S. throughout the 19th and 20th Centuries

Abstract The current paper uncovered the pertinent discourses and themes of and about adoption in the United States throughout the following time periods: 1850-1919, 1920-1959, 1960-1979, and 1980-present. Emergent discourses were placed in their historical context(s) and served to illuminate the conversations and movements that informed prominent adoption discourses, policies, and best practices throughout history. Through illuminating salient discourse and themes of adoption throughout history, a better understanding of how the perspectives that professionals, politicians, practitioners, and social scientists often hold as fundamental have the potential to change over time was afforded. A critical historical analysis provides a foundation for those working in the field of child welfare currently, and adoption specifically, to critically interrogate how their own philosophies, practices, conversations, and policy work may impact the pertinent discourses and themes of and about adoption throughout the 21st century.