The US adoption system: media depictions and why they are ignored

Abstract

This study investigated the U.S. adoption system, media influence, and welfare spending. It was undertaken to understand how the media frames adoption and the U.S. adoption system and how certain factors influence how the public views welfare spending (welfare spending including foster care and adoption programs). The media presents the adoption process as long and complex, suggesting that social welfare programs that handle adoption and foster care may be underfunded. However, such presentation has not prompted a response from the public, suggesting that opinions about adoption are influenced by factors other than media portrayal. This research suggests that political leanings, family income, and confidence in the media are all partially influential to how people view how much money is spent on welfare programs. This research also suggests that other avenues would be more successful than the media in raising awareness about problems in adoptions, such as using conservative-leaning NGOs to inform conservative-leaning citizens