With a triadic perspective, this autoethnographic narrative explores the temporal, situated nature of interactions between the author as an adoptee with her adult adopted children as well as those between herself and her birth father and mother.
The epiphanic adoptive family narratives that are foregrounded seek to deepen and challenge understanding of how kinship affinities are experienced. The autoethnographic narratives are written in a critical, evocative style which is valuable for two reasons. Firstly, the processes of reflexive self-introspection, self-observation and dialogue with relational others have established a critical connection between recognising and responding to kinship affinities and personal growth. Secondly, lying at the intersection of the self and other this narrative contributes to deepening insights around epistemic in/justice in adoptive kinship.
This book will be of interest to educators and scholars of adoption in offering an insider perspective on unique family relationships as well as how the author undertakes critical evocative autoethnography. Adoptees, adoptive parents, and birth parents will also find the narratives in Part II of this book of particular interest in informing an understanding of kin relationships and how these may be subject to change over time.
Part I – An Adoptee’s Critical Autoethnography
1. In-between-ness and belonging
2. Autoethnography
Part II – Stories of Adoptive Kinship
3. “You’re not my real mum!”
4. Recognition as love
5. Darkest February
6. Five years later
7. My lineage
Biography
Christine A. Lewis is a senior lecturer in the Faculty of Education at Edge Hill University. She is an adoptee, adoptive mother, and birth daughter. Her research interests include autoethnographic, autobiographic, and narrative accounts of adoption, and estrangement in families. Her recent chapter on family estrangement is entitled "Blood is thicker than water!" (2022).
