Identity Issues

Please find some of our best articles, essays and reviews on this topic.

For more topics and articles, check out our full listing on our Resource Library.

Identity formation is a critical task of childhood and indeed life. For all adopted people, their identity is impacted by their genetic connections as well as the family in which they are raised and all of their experiences in-between. Topics include nurturing strong identity in children, adults, and family, including gender identity, racial identity, cultural identity and adoption identity. Articles include personal stories as well as research and expert advice.

If you prefer, you can use our Library Search Tool to search by title or author. All the material in this section is copyrighted by Pact; for permission to reproduce or re-post it, please contact us at education@pactadopt.org.

• "Don’t You Dare Repeat Any of This" Thoughts of Adoption By An Adoptee-By-The-Sea
  by Joyce Maguire Pavao (1997 | 328 KB | )
  
• (Multi)Racial Identity Model
  by Sue Harris O’Connor (2007 | 45 KB | )
  
• A Biblical View of Adoption
  by Chené Tucker, MSW, LCSW (1994 | 107 KB | )
  
• A Bill of Rights for Mixed Folks?
  by Marilyn Blake Dramé (1996 | 125 KB | )
  
• A Long Journey Home
  by Molly McCullough (2008 | 351 KB | )
  
• A World of Hurt Even a Mother Can’t Soothe
  by Meri Nana-Ama Danquah (1997 | 118 KB | )
  
• ADHD and African American Children
  by Willie B. Garrett (1996 | 96 KB | )
  
• Adoptees Experience
  by JoAnne Whittington (1998 | 85 KB | )
  
• Adoption and the Stages of Development - What Parents Can Expect at Different Ages
  by Beth Hall (1992 | 114 KB | )
  
• An Opposing View - Biracial Census Status Would Hurt Our Status
  by Joe Madison (1998 | 96 KB | )
  
• Ask a First Mother: Who are Adoptive Childrens’ Forever Parents?
  by Susan Dusza Guerra Leksander (2012 | 456 KB | )
  
• Ask Pact Is There Something Wrong With Me?
  by Pact (2010 | 327 KB | )
  
• Ask Pact: Talking with a Preschooler about Birth Parents
  (2011 | 119 KB | )
  
• Ask Pact: To Move or Not To Move?
  by Beth Hall (2009 | 60 KB | )
  
• Attachment and the School Age Child
  by David Brodzinsky (2010 | 89 KB | )
  
• Balance Beam: Being A Parent/Being Adopted
  by Susan Ito (1997 | 327 KB | )
  
• Bastard Nation - What’s In a Name
  by Damsel Plum (1998 | 121 KB | )
  
• Being An Immigrant to the United States
  by Ana Bagtas (1996 | 119 KB | )
  
• Birth Parent Loss and Grief
  by Patricia E. Roles (1997 | 115 KB | )
  
• Birth Parent Profile - My Secret Life
  Michelle Cabrerra (1997 | 124 KB | )
  
• Book Review: Brothers and Sisters in Adoption
  by Arleta James (2009 | 473 KB | )
  
• Book Review: Forever Fingerprints
  by Sherrie Eldridge (2007 | 86 KB | )
  
• Book Review: Lucky Girl
  by Mei-Ling Hopgood (2010 | 183 KB | )
  
• Book Review: Once They Hear My Name: Korean Adoptees and Their Journey
  by Marilyn Lammert, Ellen Lee and Mary Anne Hess (2009 | 406 KB | )
  
• Book Review: Slant
  by Laura Williams (2010 | 361 KB | )
  
• Book Review: The Colours in Me: Writing & Poetry by Adopted Children & Youth
  Edited by Perlita Harris (2009 | 412 KB | )
  
• Book Review: The Identity Trap: Saving Our Teens from Themselves
  by Joseph Nowinski (2008 | 403 KB | )
  
• Book Review: Twenty Things Adopted Kids Wish Their Adoptive Parents Knew
  by Sherri Eldridge (2005 | 104 KB | )
  
• Book Review: Why Can’t You Look Like Me?
  by Ola Zuri (2010 | 525 KB | )
  
• Borders of Belonging
  by Sofia Arroyo (2008 | 309 KB | )
  
• Building An Adoptive Identity
  by Harold Grotevant (2009 | 129 KB | )
  
• Building Racial Identity - The Challenge of Religion
  by Beth Hall and Gail Steinberg (1997 | 116 KB | )
  
• Can White People Nurture Black Kids Effectively?
  by RoAnne Elliot (1998 | 111 KB | )
  
• Child Development and Adoption
  by Holly Veldhuis (1992 | 104 KB | )
  
• Children In Transition
  by Devon Rubin (2009 | 308 KB | )
  
• Deafness and Difference
  by Marilyn May (1996 | 110 KB | )
  
• Dealing with Racism: Perspective of a White Transracial Adoptive Parent
  by Beth Hall (2012 | 163 KB | )
  
• Developing Cultural Competence
  by Linda Whitfield (1995 | 105 KB | )
  
• Different Birth Families of Adopted Siblings
  by Pam Hutsell (1994 | 110 KB | )
  
• Director’s Corner - Building Racial Identity Strategies and Practical Suggestions
  by Beth Hall (1996 | 108 KB | )
  
• Director’s Corner: Adolescence Who Am I? Where Am I Going?
  by Beth Hall & Gail Steinberg (2003 | 98 KB | )
  
• Director’s Corner: Anger & Mood Swings in Tweens & Teens
  by Beth Hall (2008 | 114 KB | )
  
• Director’s Corner: Evolving Conversations Should Parents Initiate Talk about Adoption or Wait for their Child’s Questions?
  by Beth Hall & Gail Steinberg (2010 | 104 KB | )
  
• Director’s Corner: Facing Our Worst Fears Telling the Truth to Adopted Children
  by Beth Hall (2010 | 144 KB | )
  
• Director’s Corner: Naming NATE
  by Beth Hall & Gail Steinberg (2009 | 572 KB | )
  
• Encouraging Reluctant Teens & Tweens to Attend Teen Club
  by Pact (2011 | 342 KB | )
  
• Family Resemblance in Transracial Adoption
  by Jana Wolff (1998 | 329 KB | )
  
• Family Stories: Surviving Foster Care - A Day with Shane Salter
  Interviewed by Roxanne Agur (1997 | 373 KB | )
  
• Family Story: Dan O’Brien - The World’s Greatest Athlete - A Transracially Adopted Hero
  Interviewed by Gail Steinberg (1997 | 390 KB | )
  
• Feelings of Differentness
  by Jean Benward (1994 | 106 KB | )
  
• Fostering the Autonomy of the Adopted Person
  by Susan Harris (1995 | 317 KB | )
  
• Four Lifelong Issues in Adoption
  by Beth Hall and Gail Steinberg (2007 | 116 KB | )
  
• Globe Is Our Village
  Author Unknown (1998 | 90 KB | )
  
• Grief
  by Beth Hall (1997 | 108 KB | )
  
• Hambun-Hambun
  by Susan Ito (1995 | 339 KB | )
  
• Healing the Primal Wound
  by Nancy Verrier (1994 | 337 KB | )
  
• How Adoption Has Shaped My Life
  by Joyce Maguire Pavao (1994 | 335 KB | )
  
• I Never Thought of It Before - I Was Someone Else Before I Was Me
  by Lori Clemmons (1997 | 112 KB | )
  
• If The Shoe Doesn’t Fit
  by Gail Steinberg (1995 | 131 KB | )
  
• If You’re Color Blind, How Do You See Me?
  by Kevin Hofmann (2012 | 101 KB | )
  
• Issues for Asians in America
  by Katherine Kam (1992 | 92 KB | )
  
• Jigsaw Puzzle: Adopted Children of Color
  by Beth Hall and Gail Steinberg (1992 | 118 KB | )
  
• Keeping In Touch
  by Carmen Rodriguez (1995 | 103 KB | )
  
• Kinship Style - Open, Closed, or Shifting
  by Gail Steinberg and Beth Hall (1994 | 104 KB | )
  
• Lessons
  by Sharon Kaplan Roszia (1994 | 311 KB | )
  
• Letter From a Birth Father
  by David Jones (1997 | 107 KB | )
  
• Letting Go - Launching Adolescents
  by Beth Hall (2007 | 49 KB | )
  
• Living An Open Adoption
  by Jennifer Ferrara (1997 | 120 KB | )
  
• Multicultural Education
  by Beth Hall & Gail Steinberg (2001 | 125 KB | )
  
• Multicultural Identities in the Making: You Are What You Speak
  by John Raible (2009 | 120 KB | )
  
• My Crooked Family Tree
  by Lynn Calza (2007 | 105 KB | )
  
• My Dog Story
  by Penny Callan Partridge (1997 | 301 KB | )
  
• My Name Is Roxanne
  by Roxanne Agur (1995 | 110 KB | )
  
• Never
  by Ellwyn Kauffman (2010 | 304 KB | )
  
• Non-Adopted Siblings of Adoptees
  by Beth Hall (2012 | 97 KB | )
  
• Non-Adoptee Privilege
  by Kelly Reineke (2009 | 67 KB | )
  
• Not Just "White Parents with Kids of Color" - The Importance of Racial Identity Work for Parents
  by Gina Miranda Samuels, Ph.D., MSSW (2012 | 129 KB | )
  
• On Being Adopted Older with "Special Needs"
  by Carol DeMuth (1997 | 349 KB | )
  
• Open Adoptions Navigating Our Differences
  by Jim Gritter (2004 | 95 KB | )
  
• Openness In Adoption
  by Pact (2010 | 52 KB | )
  
• Our International Adoption Packing List
  by Beth Hall and Gail Steinberg (2000 | 109 KB | )
  
• Pact Camp Offers Parenting Insights FCC Northern California, Summer 2006
  by Annie Stuart (2006 | 66 KB | )
  
• Pact’s Perspective on Therapy and Adoption
  by Jeannie Lin in collaboration with Pact staff (2004 | 340 KB | )
  
• Perspective From a Young Korean American
  by David Kim (1998 | 114 KB | )
  
• Perspectives on Transracial Adoption - Transracially Adopted Child’s Bill of Right
  by Liza Steinberg (2003 | 63 KB | )
  
• Positive Discipline
  by Lisa Kelly (2010 | 329 KB | )
  
• Prenatal Trauma and the Adoptee Experience
  by Sally Clark (1996 | 112 KB | )
  
• Prepare In Order To Protect
  by Beth Hall (2009 | 56 KB | )
  
• Proactive Parenting: How to Recognize Issues and When to Seek Help
  by Dee A. Paddock (1998 | 327 KB | )
  
• Promoting Understanding of Adoption Issues
  by Patricia Irwin Johnston (1993 | 337 KB | )
  
• Quinceañera!
  by Veronica Maciel (2003 | 73 KB | )
  
• Racial Identity Formation
  by Pact (2007 | 64 KB | )
  
• Raising Kids Multiculturally
  by Ann Freeman (1994 | 107 KB | )
  
• Recognizing Loss
  Becca Martinson (1994 | 106 KB | )
  
• Rejoice in What Unites Us - Creating Kinship Systems
  by Beth Hall and Gail Steinberg (1994 | 110 KB | )
  
• Seeing A Child Through The Lens Of Temperament
  by Rona Renner (2010 | 144 KB | )
  
• Self Esteem and Adoption
  by Kenneth Watson (1995 | 331 KB | )
  
• Shared Fate in Gay & Lesbian Families
  by Julie Randolph (2004 | 94 KB | )
  
• So You Want To Open Your Child’s Adoption
  by Leslie Foge (2004 | 332 KB | )
  
• Solidifying Multiracial Culture
  by Rebecca Bibbs (2005 | 103 KB | )
  
• Stopping Bias In Its Tracks
  by Laurie Olsen & Nina Mullen (1995 | 126 KB | )
  
• Straight Talk
  by Liza Steinberg (1996 | 95 KB | )
  
• Synchronicity: The Sparks of Reunion
  by LaVonne Stiffler (1997 | 336 KB | )
  
• Talking to Young Children about Race and Racism
  by Joemy Ito-Gates & Wei Ming Dariotis (2006 | 107 KB | )
  
• Talking to Your Adopted Adolescent about Adoption
  by Randolph W. Severson (1995 | 334 KB | )
  
• Talking with Children about Difficult History
  by Holly van Gulden (1995 | 339 KB | )
  
• Teen Corner: A Letter From My Heart
  by Melissa Cunningham (2010 | 327 KB | )
  
• Teen Corner: Dominique’s Journey
  by Dominique Parker (2005 | 94 KB | )
  
• Teen Corner: Mission Possible
  by Rabia Cons (2008 | 83 KB | )
  
• Teen Corner: Picture Me
  by Sofia Arroyo (2005 | 72 KB | )
  
• Teen Corner: Psychological Heavy Lifting
  by Lilah Goldthwaite (2008 | 350 KB | )
  
• Teen Corner: TRA (Transracial Adoptee) Understanding and Love
  by Sara Blair (2007 | 83 KB | )
  
• The Art & Soul of Adoption & Foster Care: Expressive Means to Communication and Healing
  by Joyce Maguire Pavao (2010 | 330 KB | )
  
• The Issue of Race for Private-School Students of Color
  by Sharon Cravanas Johns (1995 | 110 KB | )
  
• The Life Story Book
  by Vera Fahlberg (1993 | 337 KB | )
  
• The Lifelong Impact of Adoption
  by Marlou Russell (1995 | 309 KB | )
  
• The Name Game
  by Jae Ran Kim (2007 | 327 KB | )
  
• The Optimal Adoptive Launch
  by Michael D. Trout (1994 | 346 KB | )
  
• The Primal Wound?
  by Randolph W. Severson (1994 | 336 KB | )
  
• The Real Daughter
  by Colleen Houlihan  (1994 | 106 KB | )
  
• The Spirituality of Adoption
  (1996 | 113 KB | )
  by Father Thomas Brosnan
  
• The Tapestry of My Life
  by Holly van Gulden (1994 | 323 KB | )
  
• The Toddler of Color in Daycare
  by Joy Viveros (1994 | 117 KB | )
  
• Thinking About Culture Camp
  by Julie Randolph (2004 | 54 KB | )
  
• Transracial Adoption - A Response to Jim Mahoney
  by Theresa Hughes (1992 | 108 KB | )
  
• Transracial Adoption of Mixed-Race Youth: A Diary of a Child’s Journey
  by Gail Steinberg and Beth Hall (2002 | 121 KB | )
  
• Unknown - I Was Adopted
  by Liza Steinberg (1996 | 106 KB | )
  
• Unpacking the Knapsack of White Privilege
  by Peggy McIntosh (1988 | 63 KB | )
  
• We Are Family
  by Marcia Burnell (1998 | 112 KB | )
  
• What Divides Us is What Connects Us
  by Robin D.G. Kelley (2012 | 132 KB | )
  
• What I Learned from My Daughter’s Self-Portrait
  by Elise Crum (2010 | 0 KB | )
  
• What Kind of Name is That?
  by T. Chedgszey Smith (1996 | 100 KB | )
  
• When I First Started Thinking About It
  by Liza Steinberg Triggs (1995 | 101 KB | )
  
• Who Are The Real Parents of American’s Children
  by O. Virginia Phillips (1995 | 109 KB | )
  
• Whoness - A Question of Identity
  by Nasoan Sheftel-Gomes (1995 | 104 KB | )
  
• Why Children Don’t Talk (Much) Adoption Adoption
  by Virginia Keeler-Wolf (1996 | 336 KB | )
  
• Why Combating Homophobia and Heterosexism in the Elementary Classroom Makes ALL Kids Feel Safer
  by Aimee Fisher (2008 | 115 KB | )
  

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