Words Can Hurt

Words convey facts and evoke feelings. The way we talk—and the specifically the words we choose—say a lot about what we think and value. When we use positive adoption language, we are supporting that adoption is a wonderful way to build a family – just as birth is.  Both ways are important, unique and special.  One is not more important than the other.

By using emotionally sensitive language, we educate others about adoption and the fact that it isn’t a “second best” route to becoming a parent. We speak and write this way in the hope of influencing others so that this language will someday become the norm.  It is important to talk with your family and friends about why certain verbiage has a negative impact – and relate it to your preferences. Your coaching can also be contagious to those around you, correcting adoption misconceptions in a powerful way.

When considering your adoption language, it is important to think of the child’s perspective. For an adopted child, the difference in the words they hear about adoption can change the way they view themselves.  It’s also the tone and intent of the user that puts the communicative concept in a positive or negative light.

In adoption, children will always have two absolutely “real” families: one by birth and one by adoption.  By sweetening the language, we sometimes remove the truth though.  A fact remains that can’t be changed with emotionally sensitive words… that every adoption really begins with a catastrophe.

Sometimes we may actually have to choose between politically correct terms and those a child chooses to use – based on their age level and cognitive understanding.  For example, in a foster child’s eyes, they were “taken away” from their parent by police and CPS workers.  So, they won’t easily apply the preferred term: “court termination” to that scenario. They were there for the “taking away” part and if it’s historically accurate, any correction might cause unnecessary confusion.

If you have reached this article because you are unsure of what phrases to use, we believe it’s perfectly acceptable to ask the biological parents or adoptive family what they prefer. By being overt, you can avoid phrases that may be confusing to a child and/or hurtful to both the birth family and adopting family.  Quite frankly, they may not even entirely support this agency’s chosen terms – and that’s just fine.  We should all aim to create comfort with our words.  Use the terms that they support and find the most value in, given their unique relationships and situation.

Adoption has significant impact on the lives of those it touches, but it is not a “condition.” It should never become a label.  Choose which words you use carefully and thoughtfully.  After all — Words Can Hurt.

Below are vocabulary terms about adoption which have been chosen carefully to reflect maximum respect, responsibility and objectivity about the decisions occurring in family planning decisions, children who have been adopted and families who have been impacted by adoption.

More Sensitive:                                    Less Sensitive:

Say: Birthparent                                   Don’t say: Real Parent

Say: Biological parent                         Don’t say: Natural parent

Say: Birth Child                                    Don’t say: My own child, real child, natural child

Say: My child                                         Don’t say: My adopted child, My own child

Say: Person                                           Don’t say: Adoptee

Say: Born to unmarried parents         Don’t say: Illegitimate

Say: Make an adoption plan                Don’t say: Give away, adopt out

Say: Chose adoption                            Don’t say: Put up or give up for adoption

Say: To parent the baby                       Don’t say: To keep the baby

Say: Child in need of a family             Don’t say: Adoptable child/unwanted child

Say: I’m a Parent                                   Don’t clarify: I’m an Adoptive parent

Say: Child who has special needs     Don’t say: Handicapped child, Hard to place child

Say: He/She WAS adopted                 Don’t say:  He/She IS adopted

Say: Choosing adoption plan            Don’t say: giving away the child

Say: Search                                           Don’t say: Track down parents

Say: Unintended pregnancy               Don’t say: Unwanted pregnancy

Say: Court termination                        Don’t say:  Child taken away

Say: Intercountry Adoption                 Don’t say:  Foreign adoption

Say: Making Contact With                  Don’t say:  Reunion

Say: Biological or birth father             Don’t say:  Real Father

Say: Biological or birth mother           Don’t say:  Real Mother

Say: Finding a family to parent a child    Don’t say: Putting a child up for adoption