Genetic stigma in law and literature : orphanhood, adoption, and the right to reunion / Alice Diver.

Cham, Switzerland : Palgrave Macmillan, an imprint of Springer Nature Switzerland, [2023]

viii, 189 pages ; 24 cm.

"This book critically analyses the way in which traditional sociocultural and legal biases might be perpetuated against those with unknown or unknowable genetic ancestries. It looks to law and works of literature across differing eras and genres focussing upon such concepts as inherited stigma, illegitimacy, orphanisation, adoption, othering, reunion, and the right to access truths that relate to ones original identity. Laws role in such matters is often limited (or usurped) by custom, practice, or lingering superstitious beliefs; the importance of oral and written testimony is therefore highlighted. Characters include abandoned or orphaned figures from folk and fairy tales, Romantic and Victorian monsters and heroes, Dickensian waifs, Edwardian rescue orphans, and dystopia-set rebels. Their insights and experiences are mirrored in various present day scenarios that speak to familial human rights abuses, not least forced adoptions and bars on accessing original information. This cross-disciplinary book drawing on Law, Literature, Sociology, Critical Adoption Studies should be of interest to those interested in and those who have been affected in some way by adoption, origin deprivation, or reunion. " -- Provided by publisher.

English

March 08, 2024

Palgrave Socio-Legal Studies.

Includes blibliographical references and index.