The Pros And Cons Of Open Adoption

In contrast, some people do not think adoption records should be open to the adoptee because birth parents may not want to be found. Birth parents have multiple considerations to make during the adoption process, especially choosing whether or not to keep their records open. For instance, it is possible a mother may desire a closed adoption if the pregnancy was unplanned, and the birth father decided to leave. The birth mother may not want the child to know the father left them. Miriam Reitz, a therapist with a PhD in Marriage and Family Counseling, stated, in the past, “The birth mother could go on with her life as though she never had given birth. (Birth fathers usually were not part of the process or thinking.)” (328). It is understandable that the birth mother or father may want to say hidden, especially if their pregnancy was unexpected. The birth mother has …show more content…
Even if their biological parents are making the final decision, adoptees should not have to go through life confused and identity ridden. Open adoption provides the adoptee with information that can help them understand why their birth parents gave them up for adoption. Openness in an adoption also allows them to develop a sense of self, which is important in the development of their identity. This is not to say that closed adoption is not necessary in some cases, but open adoption should still be considered in every situation. Leaving adoptees in the dark about where they came from is not acceptable because it prevents them from further development. Birth parents have to consider the future of their child before making this life-altering decision. The hope is that the number of closed adoptions continues to drop, and more adoptees will be allowed to access information on their birth parents. If birth parents choose to think about the needs of their child instead of their own, this outcome is very