In the States, if she goes outside this approved method of behaviour, her state benefits are penalized. A woman must, however, have a baby if she is in wedlock, and there are immense pressures on her to reproduce. Now there is the cry that it is every woman's right to be a mother and raise a child. We are talking about society telling women they are nothing unless they have a child. The aim of the book was to air the voices of everyone involved in adoption, because adoption books usually show just one point of view.
Society has kept women separated and silent, so they have no power.
It is not something which can be parcelled up and sorted out and solved. The key for me was that my adoptive mother was very open about it. It would be great if both mothers could be open, but for some people there is judgment and guilt and it is too painful to be discussed. A time to honor the adoption journeys in our lives and to advocate for openess and honesty in adoption. Look for special promotion displays advertising The Adoption Reader throughout national adoption month.