Coercive situations, social inequality and stigmatisation of birth mothers in adoptions in Switzerland, 1960-1980

Bühler, Rahel

Publication type:	Conference poster
Type of review:	Peer review (abstract)
Title:	Coercive situations, social inequality and stigmatisation of birth mothers in adoptions in Switzerland, 1960-1980
Authors:	Bühler, Rahel
et. al:	No
Conference details:	17th International Conference of the European Scientific Association on Residential & Family Care for Children and Adolescents (EuSARF), Brighton, United Kingdom, 12-15 September 2023
Issue Date:	Sep-2023
Language:	English
Subjects:	Adoption; Zwangsmassnahme; Ledige Mutterschaft
Subject (DDC):	362.7: Youth services
Abstract:	An adoption is significant for everyone involved, as it reestablishes the parent-child relationship. In adoption practices of the past, the claim to care for the child through adoption and mechanisms of coercion were equally present. The biological mothers had to make the drastic decision to place a child for adoption in a vulnerable phase of their life. In Switzerland in the 1960s and 1970s, it was mostly single mothers from precarious financial circumstances who placed their child for adoption. They were confronted with intersected moments of coercion, which limited their scope for decision-making. For example, gender stereotypes played a major role at least until the legal equality of illegitimate with legitimate children in 1976/78. For a long time, single mothers were threatened with social stigmatisation. In broad social circles as well as among experts, adoption was considered a better solution for the child than for him or her to be raised by an unmarried mother. Defending themselves against this overpowering discourse and keeping a child was a challenge for the mothers, especially if they lacked the support of their family. In some cases, women also embraced the prevailing social values and considered adoption to be right for themselves and the child. Shame and stigmatisation contributed to their decision. In addition, there were other systemic constraints, namely poverty and a lack of childcare options. The presentation will shed light on the role played by representatives of the child and family welfare services and the state authorities as well as the social workers of private placement agencies in the decision-making process of the mothers. It will be asked whether these actors tried to compensate for the different kinds of disadvantages and discrimination that single mothers faced and whether they were able to protect them from coercive situations. The results of a research project will be presented. It is being developed within the Swiss National Research Programme 76 "Welfare and Coercion". We are investigating the dynamics of care and coercion in adoptions in Switzerland from 1960 to the present day on the basis of adoption files and interviews with birth mothers. A key finding is that the responsible actors did little to protect vulnerable women. The intersection of gender and class led to specific stigmatisation and exacerbated the disadvantages of the women. Age and national origin could also have an influence on the authorities' actions and the mothers' scope of action. The mixing of competences in the adoption process led to conflicts of interest and appears problematic from today's perspective. The social workers of placement agencies advised mothers, carried out suitability checks on adoptive parents and even took over the guardianship of the children. These questions and perspectives provide not only historical insights, but also fundamental reflections on how child welfare services can address or reinforce social inequalities and intersectional discrimination. They also enable general insights into the question of whether – and to what extent – women today can make autonomous and uncoerced decisions in comparable reproductive-related contexts, e.g. surrogacy or abortions.
URI:	https://digitalcollection.zhaw.ch/handle/11475/28763
Fulltext version:	Published version
License (according to publishing contract):	Licence according to publishing contract
Departement:	Social Work
Organisational Unit:	Institute of Childhood, Youth and Family (IKJF)
Published as part of the ZHAW project:	Adoption in Zwangssituationen
Appears in collections:	Publikationen Soziale Arbeit

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Bühler, R. (2023, September). Coercive situations, social inequality and stigmatisation of birth mothers in adoptions in Switzerland, 1960-1980. 17th International Conference of the European Scientific Association on Residential & Family Care for Children and Adolescents (EuSARF), Brighton, United Kingdom, 12-15 September 2023.

Bühler, R. (2023) ‘Coercive situations, social inequality and stigmatisation of birth mothers in adoptions in Switzerland, 1960-1980’, in 17th International Conference of the European Scientific Association on Residential & Family Care for Children and Adolescents (EuSARF), Brighton, United Kingdom, 12-15 September 2023.

R. Bühler, “Coercive situations, social inequality and stigmatisation of birth mothers in adoptions in Switzerland, 1960-1980,” in 17th International Conference of the European Scientific Association on Residential & Family Care for Children and Adolescents (EuSARF), Brighton, United Kingdom, 12-15 September 2023, Sep. 2023.

BÜHLER, Rahel, 2023. Coercive situations, social inequality and stigmatisation of birth mothers in adoptions in Switzerland, 1960-1980. In: 17th International Conference of the European Scientific Association on Residential & Family Care for Children and Adolescents (EuSARF), Brighton, United Kingdom, 12-15 September 2023. Conference poster. September 2023

Bühler, Rahel. 2023. “Coercive Situations, Social Inequality and Stigmatisation of Birth Mothers in Adoptions in Switzerland, 1960-1980.” Conference poster. In 17th International Conference of the European Scientific Association on Residential & Family Care for Children and Adolescents (EuSARF), Brighton, United Kingdom, 12-15 September 2023.

Bühler, Rahel. “Coercive Situations, Social Inequality and Stigmatisation of Birth Mothers in Adoptions in Switzerland, 1960-1980.” 17th International Conference of the European Scientific Association on Residential & Family Care for Children and Adolescents (EuSARF), Brighton, United Kingdom, 12-15 September 2023, 2023.