Liberty Lost: Episode 7 – "Coming Round the Mountain"

In Episode 7 of Liberty Lost, titled "Coming Round the Mountain," host and reporter T.J. Raphael delves deep into the harrowing realities of maternity homes and the adoption industry in post-Roe America. Through compelling personal stories and insightful expert analysis, Raphael exposes the coercive practices that undermine the autonomy of pregnant women, particularly those from evangelical backgrounds. This episode not only narrates the struggles of young mothers like Anna Smith but also critiques the systemic flaws that perpetuate the cycle of adoption as a coerced choice rather than a supported decision.

Anna Smith’s Journey: From Homelessness to Adoption

The episode begins with the poignant story of Anna Smith, a resilient 18-year-old who, after aging out of the foster care system, finds herself homeless and juggling multiple jobs to survive. [00:00]

Anna Smith [01:00]: "I have no guidance. I have nowhere to go. I'm on my own completely. So I'm homeless. I'm living in my car."

Determined to complete her high school education, Anna pushes through immense hardships, supported by compassionate teachers like Mr. Herring and Ms. Velez. Their unwavering support helps her graduate despite her precarious circumstances. [01:32]

Anna Smith [01:49]: "Ms. Velez or Mr. Herring would come out and wake me up for school. They were my alarm clocks, and they would bring me breakfast every morning... I ended up graduating high school. May have been homeless, but I did it."

Post-graduation, Anna's life remains unstable. Maintaining multiple jobs and unstable living arrangements, she discovers she is pregnant following a brief relationship. Struggling with her situation and guided by her devout Christian upbringing, Anna seeks support to avoid abortion, ultimately leading her to the Liberty Godparent Home. [02:07 – 02:58]

Anna Smith [02:24]: "He was like, I'm not gonna have anything to do with, you know, whatever, whatever."

At Liberty Godparent Home, Anna quickly realizes that the facility prioritizes adoptions over supporting her desire to parent. Misled by promises of support, she is coerced into signing away her parental rights, resulting in an open adoption that leaves her without the resources she desperately needed. [03:12 – 04:54]

Anna Smith [03:32]: "I remember only having one parenting class and that was it. We had a lot of adoption classes... Basically, they want to show you the ugly side of parenting and the beautiful side of adoption."

Anna's subsequent struggles—losing her donated Mercedes Benz and facing homelessness—highlight the precarious outcomes for young mothers coerced into adoption without adequate support. [04:15 – 04:54]

Anna Smith [04:27]: "So I had to sell it to a dealer for like $500 or whatever. That's what I got for placing my kid for adoption."

Unveiling the System: Interview with Gretchen Sisson

Transitioning from Anna's story, Raphael engages in a profound conversation with Gretchen Sisson, a sociologist and author of Politics of Adoption and The Privilege of American Motherhood. Sisson provides a critical analysis of the adoption industry, emphasizing how systemic inequities and lack of support compel women to relinquish their children. [06:52 – 31:13]

Gretchen Sisson [07:44]: "Adoption always happens because people don't have power over their own lives to change the circumstances of their own lives."

Through extensive research comprising over a decade and hundreds of interviews, Sisson uncovers that financial insecurity, lack of stable housing, insufficient childcare, and absence of supportive relationships drive women to adoption as a last resort. [08:39 – 09:29]

Gretchen Sisson [08:10]: "They didn't have access to stable housing, they didn't have access to childcare, they didn't have access to a safe or stable partner or co-parent..."

Reproductive Justice vs. Reproductive Rights

A key segment of the episode explores the distinction between reproductive rights and reproductive justice. Sisson explains that while reproductive rights focus on the legal ability to choose (e.g., access to abortion), reproductive justice encompasses the broader social and economic conditions that enable or restrict these choices. [09:29 – 11:13]

Gretchen Sisson [09:52]: "Reproductive justice goes beyond one of reproductive rights because reproductive rights are really about legal access to reproductive choice... Reproductive justice... brings poverty into the equation."

Sisson argues that the current adoption practices in the U.S. starkly contrast with the values of reproductive justice, as they fail to provide the necessary support for women to choose parenting over relinquishment. [10:00 – 11:13]

Critiquing the Adoption Industry

Challenging the pro-life narrative that posits adoption as a positive alternative to abortion, Sisson presents evidence that places adopting children can lead to greater long-term mental health challenges compared to those who choose abortion. [11:13 – 12:58]

Gretchen Sisson [11:39]: "Everything that [the anti-abortion movement] argue about abortion I believe is more true about the practice of adoption in the United States today."

She highlights the coercive and profit-driven nature of the adoption industry, questioning the ethics behind commodifying children for adoption and the resultant trauma experienced by birth mothers. [12:00 – 12:58]

The Intersection of Conservative Christianity and Adoption

The episode delves into how conservative Christian ideologies intertwine with adoption practices, making adoption a tool for religious expression and enforcement of moral standards. Sisson reveals that up to 80% of infant adoptions may involve religious institutions, using adoption to build "God's family." [13:40 – 14:42]

Gretchen Sisson [13:40]: "If it's not about survival, relinquishment is about salvation... Adoption is viewed as a way of building God's family in your own home."

Raphael notes the cultural pressures within evangelical communities that discourage single motherhood and reliance on government support, steering women toward faith-based adoption facilities instead. [14:42 – 15:27]

Policy Implications and Recommendations

Sisson critiques current legislative efforts, such as Project 2025, which seeks to incentivize adoption as an alternative to abortion. She argues that such policies ignore the exploitative dynamics of the adoption industry and fail to address the root causes that force women into adoption. [19:24 – 22:28]

Gretchen Sisson [20:05]: "Adoption is never appealing to women. Adoption is a fundamentally conservative institution. It is often predatory and we need to take a deep look at this without just blanketly assuming that this is a common ground that we have."

Sisson advocates for family preservation practices—policies that provide affordable housing, living wages, childcare, and other social supports to empower women to parent their children. She emphasizes the need for a robust social safety net to reduce the coercive reliance on adoption. [29:01 – 30:01]

Gretchen Sisson [29:13]: "Family preservation policies are the same policies that are going to support millions of American families living in poverty that have no interaction with the adoption industry..."

Looking Forward: Ethical Adoption and Social Support

Addressing the possibility of ethical adoption, Sisson remains skeptical, arguing that as long as adoption remains commodified and rooted in systemic inequities, it cannot be truly ethical. She underscores the importance of viewing adoption through a critical lens and advocates for societal shifts that prioritize care and support over separation. [23:38 – 27:00]

Gretchen Sisson [23:38]: "As long as we're commodifying people, and as long as this industry is rooted in inequity and often exploitation, I don't believe it's possible."

Sisson highlights international models where adoption is state-managed without profit motives, suggesting that the U.S. could benefit from similar frameworks to ensure the welfare of both children and birth parents. [27:00 – 29:01]

Conclusion and Call to Action

In closing, Sisson encourages listeners to engage with the growing movement for adopting a reproductive justice approach to adoption. She recommends connecting through social media platforms and supporting initiatives that aim to transform the conversation around adoption into one that prioritizes genuine support and ethical practices. [30:13 – 31:13]

Gretchen Sisson [30:13]: "There's this really growing conversation. I think people are ready to think about this from a more critical perspective and really want to understand it."

Raphael concludes the episode by reiterating the urgent need to reevaluate and reform the adoption industry to align with the principles of reproductive justice, ensuring that women are genuinely supported in their choices rather than coerced into relinquishing their children.

Key Takeaways:

1. Systemic Coercion: The adoption industry often exploits vulnerable women, especially those from conservative backgrounds, by positioning adoption as the only viable option without providing necessary support for parenting.

2. Reproductive Justice: True reproductive justice requires comprehensive social and economic support, not just access to reproductive choices, to ensure women are empowered to decide their futures.

3. Policy Reform: Shifting focus from incentivizing adoption to enhancing family preservation practices can address the root causes that lead to coerced relinquishments.

4. Ethical Considerations: Without dismantling the commodification inherent in the current adoption system, achieving ethical adoption remains unattainable.

5. Community Engagement: Active participation and support for movements advocating for reproductive justice in adoption can drive meaningful change in how society supports pregnant women and families.

This episode of Liberty Lost offers a sobering examination of the adoption landscape in America, urging listeners to reconsider commonly held beliefs and advocate for systemic changes that honor the dignity and autonomy of all women.