‘Doing adoptive family’ in contemporary India – A qualitative exploration of adoptive parents’ narratives

This article discusses adoptive family practices in India, where biological connections are often seen as more important than social ties and legal recognition in building family relationships. It shares insights from a unique, in-depth study of 11 adoptive parents, connecting their experiences to the concept of ‘family practices’. The article highlights two main points. First, it shows that adoptive families vary in how they create their family lives, especially in response to everyday challenges. These families seek to socially legitimise their understanding of kinship. Second, a continuous process of negotiation and renegotiation is required to create and redefine relationships to demonstrate their familial relationships. While the small group of families studied does not represent all adoptive families in India, the findings reveal the complexities of adoptive family life in a contemporary context. This study provides a strong springboard for further research and can improve social work policy and practice.