Would You Rather? A Conversation on Adoption & Abortion | Shannon Quist | TEDxTWU

Key Concepts:

• Adoption vs. Abortion as a Moral Argument
• Government Control of Women's and Children's Bodies
• Christian Nationalism and Capitalism
• Baby Scoop Era
• Roe v. Wade and its Aftermath
• Commodification of Infants
• Economic and Racial Disparities in Reproductive Choices

1. Biblical Context of Adoption and Abortion

• Moses: The story of Moses, placed in a basket and raised by Pharaoh's daughter, is often cited by adoption proponents. However, the speaker points out that Moses ultimately overthrew the government of his adoptive family.
• King Solomon's Judgment: The tale of King Solomon deciding which woman is the true mother by suggesting the baby be cut in half is presented as a "what if" scenario used in arguments, similar to those in the abortion debate.
• Joseph: Joseph's decision to stay with his pregnant wife, Mary, and raise Jesus is portrayed as an honorable act.
• Adoption Metaphors in the New Testament: Ephesians 1:5 is quoted, highlighting the idea of being adopted into God's family through Jesus Christ. This metaphor is linked to the expectation that adoptees should be grateful for their circumstances.

2. The Baby Scoop Era (1945-1973)

• Post-World War II: This period saw an estimated 4 million babies adopted, driven by shame surrounding sex, out-of-wedlock births, and illegitimacy.
• Illegitimacy Stamps: Before this era, birth certificates of children born out of wedlock were stamped "illegitimate."
• Adoption as an Industry: The Baby Scoop Era marked the rise of adoption as a lucrative industry, with babies being sold and adoption agencies profiting.

3. Roe v. Wade and its Impact

• Shortage of White Babies: After Roe v. Wade legalized abortion in 1973, some adoptive parents complained about a lack of babies, specifically white babies, available for adoption.
• Shifting Options for White Women: Before Roe, white women pregnant out of wedlock were often shamed and forced to give up their babies. After Roe, they had options like abortion and faced less social stigma for single parenthood.
• Rise of Trans-racial and Transnational Adoptions: The decline in available white babies led to an increase in trans-racial and transnational adoptions, raising concerns about children's access to their cultural heritages and racial identities.

4. The Political Shift of Evangelicals on Abortion

• Initial Silence: Initially, many American Christians, including some Protestants, were not strongly opposed to abortion after Roe v. Wade.
• Desegregation as a Catalyst: The speaker argues that the evangelical political tilt against abortion was primarily driven by the need to retain tax exemptions for segregated schools in the late 1970s. Abortion became a mobilizing issue for evangelical voters during the Reagan era.
• Reagan's Role: President Reagan, himself an adoptive parent, was the first president to suggest adoption as an alternative to abortion and declared the first National Adoption Week.

5. Dos v. Jackson and the Commodification of Infants

• Overturning Roe: In 2022, abortion rights were returned to the states.
• Amy Coney Barrett's View: Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett, also an adoptive parent, suggested that safe havens address the "problem" of unwanted pregnancies.
• Samuel Alito's Language: Justice Samuel Alito described adoptees as a "domestic supply" that is "virtually non-existent," which the speaker interprets as commodifying infants.
• Capitalism and Labor Supply: The speaker argues that the capitalist system needs a steady labor supply, which is threatened by access to abortion. Adoptees are seen as a vulnerable population brought into existence for this purpose.

6. The Complexity of Adoption and Abortion

• Beyond Life and Death: The speaker argues that the choice a woman makes regarding an unwanted pregnancy is more complex than a simple life-or-death decision.
• Intersections of Factors: Economic hardship, racial disparities, and religious moral codes all influence the decision to give a baby up for adoption, abort the pregnancy, or become a parent.
• Wealth, Privilege, and Control: The conversation around adoption and abortion is ultimately about wealth, white privilege, and government control over women's bodies.

7. Personal Perspective and Call to Action

• Intrusive Questions: The speaker shares their personal experience of being asked if they would have preferred to be aborted, highlighting the problematic framing of adoption and abortion as an either-or moral argument.
• Listening to Diverse Experiences: The speaker calls for listening to the spectrum of experiences related to adoption and abortion, rather than simplifying them into political and religious sound bites.
• Creating New Histories: The speaker encourages a commitment to listening to diverse perspectives to create new, more nuanced understandings of these complex issues.

Conclusion:

The speaker argues that the debate around adoption and abortion is often framed in overly simplistic moral terms, obscuring the underlying issues of government control, economic disparities, and racial privilege. By examining historical examples and personal experiences, the speaker urges a more nuanced understanding of these complex issues and a commitment to listening to the diverse perspectives of those affected. The speaker challenges the notion of adoption as a simple solution to unwanted pregnancies, highlighting the potential for commodification and the need to address the root causes of economic and social inequalities that influence reproductive choices.