Navigating geotrauma in transnational adoption: A visual journey into first mothers' intimate biographies
Publisher DOI
Abstract
This paper explores the intimate biographies of first mothers involved in transnational adoption in Sri Lanka. It specifically examines the experiences of first mothers who relinquished their children for adoption in the 1970s and 1980s, focusing on the often-overlooked act of relinquishment. By amplifying the personal narratives of these first mothers and applying the conceptual lens of geotrauma, the paper explores the trauma inherent in relinquishment, the impact of distance motherhood, and the spaces that facilitate healing. Drawing on insights from feminist geography and interdisciplinary perspectives, this paper sheds light on trauma's intertwined temporal and spatial dimensions in the context of transnational adoption in Sri Lanka. It highlights the importance of recognising survivors as experts in narrating and understanding trauma and the potential for resistance and healing through the mobilisation of place.
Date Issued
2025-02-20
Publication Type
Article
Subjects
Transnational adoption First mothers Geotrauma Relinquishment Distance motherhood Healing
Language(s)
en
Additional Credits
Journal
Emotion, Space and Society
Publisher
Elsevier
ISSN
1755-4586
Access(Rights)
open.access