“From serendipity to struggle”: examining transnational adoption between Sri Lanka and Switzerland through postcolonial and feminist perspectives

Abstract

Transnational adoption practices expose a series of unequal powerdynamics and narratives rooted in colonial legacies. These narratives, oftencentred on “saving” children and portraying first/birth cultures negatively,contribute to a sense of alienation and dissonance for adopted individuals.This dissonance stems from the construction of an “Otherness” surroundingtheir first/birth cultures, juxtaposed against a perceived Western superior-ity. This reinforces historical and ongoing imbalances between the GlobalNorth and South, shaping the selfworth and heritage perception of adoptees.Furthermore, portraying first/birth mothers as passive victims solidifies thesepower dynamics, overshadowing their resilience and agency. Recognizing theunderlying colonial foundations and ongoing imperialist trends within trans-national adoption is crucial for exposing the industry’s exploitative natureand its transnational transactions.Repositioning transnational adoption within postcolonial and fem-inist frameworks would significantly enhance understanding of its pervasiveand serious misrepresentations influenced by orientalist perspectives. Post-colonial studies, postcolonial feminisms, and feminist geographies critiquethe construction, legitimization, and hegemony of knowledge systems, ad-vocating for increased contextualization and reflexivity (Beck, Bonss & Lau2018). These frameworks offer invaluable tools for critically deconstructingthe transnational adoption regime. Through the application of orientalismtheories and other postcolonial methodologies, a deeper analysis of transna-tional adoption can reveal its imperialistic tendencies, entrenched structuralinjustices, and systemic disparities in power dynamics.The experiences of Sri Lankan adoptees in Switzerland, capturedthrough qualitative data, offer a valuable foundation for further exploration.Future research should deepen its exploration of intersectionality in such ascaste, class, gender, socio-economic status, and religious beliefs that influencetransnational adoption practices in the countries of origin. Understandingthe lasting impact of transnational adoption on both adoptees and first/birthparents is important to shed light on how these experiences shape their livesin the long term. In addition, identifying the coping mechanisms individualsuse to manage these complex challenges will provide insights into resilienceand adaptation in the context of transnational adoption.