Adoptivfamiljen i policydokument : skiftande ideal över tid

Sammanfattning: The adoptive family in policy documents – changing ideals over time The purpose of this study was to examine the construction of the adoptive family. More specific, the aim was to explore, how the adoptive family are constructed in policy documents and what consequences are described for the adoptive family as a special family type. The theoretical framwork for this study was based on a social constructionism approach together with Losekes theory of claims-making. The empirical material was based on 6 policy document focusing the adoptive family with an emphasis on parenting published by the Swedish parliament and the government during two periods of time: 1967-2001 and 2003-2018. The study shows that the construction of the adoptive family has changed between the two periods. In the first period, the adoptive family was constructed as a good deed, where orphans meet childless adults. International adoptions increased in connection with a reinforced interest to help other families who needs help. Greater requirements placed on the adoptive parents suitability and the meaning of age was an important factor which affects the construction of what is appropriate parenting. Naturalness and parable became something desirable in order to resemble a biological family. In the second period, international adoptions were reduced, among other things such as adoptions where constructed as a second choice and as a short-term solution. In the second period, adoption is no longer seen as a good deed or a long-term solution and a child perspective became increasingly important. Different family ideals have also changed and affected the family constellations. The norm of a family with two parents and the ideal of men as providers, where dominant forms in a family during the first period. During the second period, the nuclear family was challenged when homosexual couples also got the chance to adopt. Further, it still is a discussion whether no-married couples can be tried as adoptive parents or not.