Sense of Belonging: A Korean American Adoptee’s Return to South Korea

Title: Sense of Belonging: A Korean American Adoptee’s Return to South Korea
Author: Diedra Cates
Faculty Sponsor: Isidore Lobnibe; Gavin Keulks
Date: 6/1/2012
Abstract: Since the end of the Korean War in 1953, over 150,000 South Korean children have been adopted by American and European families. Those in the U.S. are often referred to as KADs or Korean American adoptees. Utilizing participant observation and interviews conducted in South Korea, I examine how Confucian ideology, which stresses consanguineal relations, has directly affected the ways in which the Korean government and society view KADs and adoption and, consequently, shape the expectations placed upon KADs in a Korean context. I argue that KADs experience identity confusion and identity reconfiguration in the search for a sense of belonging in a country that has historically been ashamed of them.
Type: Text; Honors Thesis
Department: Honors Program
Language: eng
Rights: Western Oregon University Library has determined, as of 06/01/2023, this item is in copyright, which is held by the author. Users may use the item in accordance with copyright limitations and exceptions, including fair use. For other uses, please ask permission from the author.; http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/
Identifier: honors_theses/32