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The Market in Babies

Stories of Australian Adoption
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
The Market in Babies delves into the complex history of adoption, particularly focusing on the social and economic factors driving the exchange of babies throughout history. The authors explore how infants became market commodities, scrutinising the roles of various social institutions and policies that facilitated this practice. The book provides a comprehensive historical analysis, shedding light on the moral, ethical, and legal dimensions of baby adoption across different eras.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This work may appeal to you if you're interested in the historical and societal dynamics of adoption practices, exploring the marketing and commodification aspects within the context of family formation. The authors offer an insightful analysis of how the adoption process has evolved over time, making it a compelling read for those intrigued by historical sociology and the impacts of policy on individual lives.

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The Market in Children: Stories of Australian Adoption tells the history of adoption in Australia from its beginnings in the nineteenth century to its decline at the beginning of the twenty-first. The authors find that a market in children has long existed. Quartly from Monash University; Swain from ACU; Cuthbert from RMIT.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

The Market in Babies tells the history of adoption in Australia from its beginnings in the nineteenth century to its decline at the beginning of the twenty-first century. The authors find that a market in babies has long existed. In the early years, supply outstripped demand; needy babies were hard to place.

By the mid-twentieth century, demand and supply grew together, with adoption presented as the perfect solution to two social problems: infertility and illegitimacy. Supply declined in the 1970s, and demand turned to new global markets. Now these markets are closing, but technology provides new opportunities, and Australians are acquiring babies through the surrogacy markets of India and the United States.

As the rate of adoptions in Australia falls to a historic low, and parliaments across the country are apologising to parents and babies for the pain caused by past practices, The Market in Babies identifies a historical continuum between the past and the present. It challenges the view that the best interests of the child can ever be protected in an environment where the market for babies is allowed to flourish.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

The Market in Babies by Denise Cuthbert, Shurlee Swain, and Marian Quartly has been praised for its thorough exploration of the adoption history in Australia. Reviews often highlight the book's authoritative research, detailed narrative, and its impactful discussion on the social and legislative evolution of adoption practices. Critics appreciate its insightful examination of how market dynamics have influenced the adoption system, offering a comprehensive and thought-provoking perspective.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781921867866

Publisher: Monash University Publishing

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 01 November 2013

Country: Australia

Imprint: Monash University Publishing

Illustration: illustrations

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 13.0mm

Width: 153.0mm

Height: 234.0mm

Weight: 280g

Pages: 178

About the Author

Marian Quartly has taught and researched Australian history at Monash University for longer than she cares to remember. Her publications include the co-authored Creating a Nation, a feminist history of Australia. She is currently writing about gendered citizenship (male and female), about museums and virtual communities, and about the history of adoption in Australia. Her interest in visual representations of gendered citizens in this case of workers and capitalists arises out of the need to relate to a visually oriented generation of students. Shurlee Swain is a Professor at Australian Catholic University. She has published widely in the history of women and children, with a particular interest in the impact of welfare on individual lives. Denise Cuthbert is currently Dean of the School of Graduate Research at RMIT. She has a long-standing interest in adoption and family formation and has published on the experiences of non-Aboriginal women who adopted and fostered Aboriginal children. In her recent work on the history of adoption in Australia, Denise has published widely on the politics and philosophy of adoption policy.

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