Adoption Deception

Have you ever wondered how it might feel to have been adopted in Australia during the pre-1980s era in which vulnerable young mothers were coerced into relinquishing their babies? How it might feel to have grown up, become a social worker and worked with vulnerable children and families? How it might have felt to hear Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard's moving speech in March 2013, which apologized to the hundreds of thousands of people affected by the unethical adoption policies and practices prior to the 1980s and vowed to ensure that such practices are never repeated? How it might have felt to hear the announcement made only nine months later by new Prime Minister Tony Abbott, who had given his party's support to the Gillard Apology, of his intention to expand and expedite intercountry adoptions by Australians? How could someone in such a position respond to the re-popularization and deregulation of adoption in Australia? This book provides answers to those difficult questions. Adoption Deception presents the personal and professional reflections of Penny Mackieson, an Australian adoptee and social worker, on issues associated with adoption – many of which are shared with donor conception and surrogacy. For anyone with an experience of or interest in adoption, whether personal or professional, who is open to perspectives other than those selectively portrayed by populist mainstream media, this book will provide invaluable insights.