RT Journal Article
T1 Professional discourses on single parenthood in international adoptions in Spain
A1 Poveda Bicknell, David
A1 Jociles Rubio, María Isabel
A1 Rivas Rivas, Ana María
AB This article examines psychologists’ and social workers’ discourses in relation to international adoptions by single parents in Spain. The analysis suggests that these professionals, who play a key role in moving forward (or not) the adoption process, work with a distinctive notion of “the best interest of the child” in which a heterosexual couple is taken as the normative referent of parental and family relations. The principle of the child's best interest is explicitly defined at the legislative level and is incorporated as part of child protection policies, though in interview discourses it intertwines with many other themes. Our analysis uncovered some diversity in psychologists’ and social workers’ discourses, which seem to be tied to their professional and experiential background, though an argument that portrays single parenthood in negative terms dominates their views. These representations are developed even though the available evidence from post-adoption assessments does not support such bias.
PB Association for Political and Legal Anthropology.
SN 1081-6976
YR 2013
FD 2013
LK https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/115209
UL https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/115209
LA eng
NO Poveda, D., Jociles, M.I. and Rivas, A.M. (2013), Professional Discourses on Single Parenthood in International Adoptions in Spain. PoLAR, 36: 35-55. https://doi.org/10.1111/plar.12002
NO Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (España)
DS Docta Complutense
RD 30 dic 2025