and now, a poll

[kindkit]

Following on from my previous post, because now I'm beginning to wonder if what I think is my culture's view of adoption and birth mothers is not actually the case. The poll is as anonymous as I can make it, and anonymous comments are allowed.

Poll #18972

This poll is anonymous.
Open to: Registered Users, detailed results viewable to: Just the Poll Creator, participants: 27

When a woman places her child up for adoption rather than raising the child herself, how is that predominantly viewed in your culture (not necessarily by you)?

Good! This is an excellent thing to do if she felt unable to raise the child herself.
11 (40.7%)

Neutral, neither good nor bad.
6 (22.2%)

Bad. She should have raised the child.
3 (11.1%)

Adoption is extremely rare or nonexistent in my culture.
2 (7.4%)

Other, which I may choose to elaborate on in the comments.
5 (18.5%)

Comments

[lilliburlero]

I think in Britain the general cultural viewpoint is confused: often in a 'woman's place is in the wrong' sort of way. I don't get the sense that there is a lot of negative judgment of parents who choose to have children adopted, but it is regarded as intrinsically tragic in a way that I imagine could be irritating for all concerned.

In Ireland there is much more distrust of the idea of adoption, owing to the long history of institutional abuse of unmarried mothers and their children. It's not, I think, that someone would be openly negatively judged for having their child adopted, necessarily, but the idea is tainted with the aura of the 'bad old days', and there might be a lot of surprise that anyone could want to do that.

[kindkit]

I'm finding it interesting how important historical factors are: Australian commenters have mentioned the "stolen generation" of indigenous Australian children forcibly removed from their parents to be raised by white families.