Tag: Marginalized People

Tone Policing

Though the example uses feminism, adoptees also frequently experience similar criticisms. So, just a little PSA for anyone in an adoption or foster care related group or community – note, I have not had a problem of this sort in my efforts here.

First of all, what constitutes “tone policing” and second of all, why tone policing isn’t a healthy way to address marginalized people from the privileged position. Tone policing is telling a marginalized individual (like adoptees) that they should speak respectfully to their oppressors (for any reason).

A common form of tone policing is one person telling a justifiably angry (or even triggered) person that foster and adoptive (including hopeful) parents “learn best” when they are spoken to in a gentle tone. This is an example of foster and adoptive parents using their privilege to force submission from the marginalized person. You don’t think of it that way, but that is absolutely what you are doing.

Foster and adoptive parents become allies by learning boundaries from an adoptee or former foster care youth’s harsh tone. While it isn’t always easy, it is necessary to face the realities of these lived experiences without asking them to moderate their tone. These privileged people do not “learn best” from a gentle or more submissive tone.

Marginalized people (adoptees and former foster care youth) have spent their entire lives performing. By that, I mean they are forced to conform to the standards set by privileged people in order to appease them. If they do not, they are accused of being angry, bitter, and advised to seek professional help.

When you ask them to “code-switch” (changing aspects of conversation to fit in or gain acceptance) in order to make you, the privileged powerful person, more comfortable, you are forcing them to conform to your ideal of what the submissive, grateful adoptee or former foster youth is supposed to look like. You are forcing them to conform to your vision and version of who they are meant to be.

The best thing you can do is listen to their voices and understand that they are sharing their lived experience with you and often in spite of difficult emotions related to those experiences.

Doing A Good Work

A woman writes – I wanted to thank the adoptees in this group for what you have done. (Blogger’s note – I usually do not post a link to that group but if you are wanting to know about it, ask and I will point you in that direction.)

A little about me – I joined the group early this year as a hopeful adoptive parent because I was curious about your perspectives having never really heard them in the mainstream. My personal philosophy is that the internet’s best use is to help platform voices of marginalized people. This group continues to impress me with the rules and moderators who protect adoptees’ voices – in all my perspective-hunting, I have not seen an equal to this group and recommend it to everyone at any mention of adoption. You all taught me SO much.

Earlier this year (about 2 months after joining the group) I learned of a young mother in my area with a 2-year-old and 6-week-old who was homeless. Her parents attempted to weaponize the state against her to take her children. With all your voices in my head, another woman with a heart for our community and I started a group to support our homeless population, with my own focus being the many young mothers with no safety net (we have shelters for single men in my area but nothing for women or children).

Our young mother is now flourishing; she has a home, a job, and a support system. She has a PFA (Protection from Abuse) order against her parents and is legally protected. She wanted to pay it forward, and helped us support another young pregnant woman who was prepared to give up her child – instead, Mom #1 threw her a baby shower and held her hand through every step of the process. Now that baby is thriving happily with his momma, and she wants to help pay it forward to the next mother.

Because of your emotional labor, there are 3 children still with their mothers and a support system in my community to protect future mothers and help struggling ones. There are at least 4 more mothers who thought they couldn’t do it but are now off the streets and have their kids at home with them. Christmas with all these families was an absolute blessing; we were able to get all the kids gifts without their mothers having to dip into their funds. Someone dressed up as Santa to deliver them. A lot of the moms cried because they never expected to see the holidays with their kids.

You made that possible. (Blogger’s note – and any person who has the desire could do as much.)