Identity Development in Transracial Adoptive Families in South Africa: Attitudes and Practices

This research reports on the attitudes towards, experiences, and practices of identity development of transracial adoptive families in South Africa. Identity development is a significant developmental task for everyone. Integrating the many aspects of identity is particularly challenging for adopted children, especially those who are adopted transracially. Being part of a transracial adoptive family does not only impact on adoptees, but it also impacts adoptive parents, non-adopted siblings, and the family-as-a-whole. Identity development is particularly associated with adolescence. However, identity work occurs throughout the life cycle. Exploring identity development using a life cycle approach allows us to understand normal tasks and challenges, without pathologizing these processes. Specific legal, historical and socio-economic circumstances in South Africa, such as the high salience of race in South Africa, and the way race intersects with other socio-economic and cultural features, impact on identity development for transracial adoptive families. A sample of 26 transracial adoptive families was recruited by means of snowball sampling and interviewed in family interviews and focus groups. Data were thematically analyzed, and themes were presented with exemplary quotes from participants. Results show how the many layers of identity, including personal identity, adoptive identity and racial identity of transracial adoptive family members and the family as a whole develop over time and in interconnected ways. Identity development relies on specific communitive practices in the face of both internal and external challenges to legitimacy. Results also show differences in implementation of racial and ethnic socialization strategies, required for racial identity development, compared to international studies. South African adoptive parents tend to emphasize preparation for bias, rather than cultural socialization, which implies that many adoptive parents see the race of their adopted child as a liability, rather than a resource.