Money And Adoptions: Social Representations, Expectations And Opportunities For Italian Families

Money And Adoptions: Social Representations, ExpectationsAnd Opportunities For Italian Families Massimo Bustreo – IULM University of Milan Vincenzo Russo – IULM University of Milan Nadia Olivero – Bicocca University of Milan Luciana Castelli – IULM University of Milan

Abstract The aim of the present study was twofold: to explore social attitudestoward children’s world and adoption through the analysis of mass-media communications (Bachrach, London, & Maza 1991; Rompf 1993; Fritz 2005) and to find out the differences between families (biological, adoptive and mixed) and professional operators (such as psychologists and social assistants) in the perceived relationship between children, money and family (Bonura 2001; Jervey 2003; Wyatt 2006). The research have considered three phases: • quali-quantitative analysis of mass-media communications (newspapers, tv spots and movies through qualitative ad-hoc grids and T-Lab software for quantitative content analysis); • intensive-qualitative survey (9 interviews and 2 focus groups); • extensive-quantitative survey (276 questionnaires). For the b) and c) phases the sample was made up by biological, adoptive and mixed families from Northern Italy and social operators that work both for public service and for private NOG Association (Aibi). Evidences from this study underline an important analogy between biological and adoptive families about the moral aspects of the adoption. On the other side, this study highlights the difficulties of the socio-psychological aspects of money perception in the adoption experience. In fact, money are considered as «a psychological alibi, a formal excuse», or «something not more important in a adoptive family than in a biological one» and, overall, something that concern the relationship between bank and organisations, and not families and children at all.

Introduction The issue of adoption is strongly linked to the issue of children abandon, that is: • in 2004 approximately 20.000 children were living in different structures, such as institutes or children communities • nowadays there are 6.500 abandoned children living in Italy The economic cost related to the children living in institutes can be esteemed in 400-450 million of Euro (ISTAT, 2005). Moreover, there are the costs of Children Justice Organs, and the indirect cost of the special programs, uneasiness, deviance, worsening of the life quality. The international adoption is difficult to reach, because: • it takes from 3 to 6 years • it costs from 15.000 to 30.000 euro/per child

Study and research Twosteps of the research process: 1. Analysis of the social representation of children abandon in the mass-media communications. We started from the consideration that: • the social representation can promote a proper image of the phenomenon and consequently can influence behaviors (suitable as support for the adoption) (Russo, 2007); the role of media communication in the construction of the social representation is a central one (Jodelet, 1992; Contarello & Mazzara, 2002) 2. Analysis of the binomial “adoption-money” through a quali-quantitative investigation; our purpose was to explore the perception about different financial solutions for an economic support for international adoptions.

Study and research Step 1 • Qualitative and quantitative analysis of the mass-media communication, to understand in what way the messages are organized to transmit the meaning, to give sense and to influence the behavior of the individuals (Sommer, 1998; Arcuri & Castelli, 1996; Gasparini & Ottaviano 2005) Step 2 • Descriptive/exploratory research on the issue of childhood and money, abandon and economic helps through: - 9 Focus Group with adoptive families, future adoptive families, biological families and operators working for an ONG - on line survey (276 subjects of adoptive families, future adoptive families, and biological families)

Step 1 – Method and subjects • Qualitative analysis of films through an ad-hoc interpretative grid; the films have been chosen out from a data-base of 5.000 films concerning childhood and abandon (e.g. La guerra di Mario, Vai e Vivrai, La frattura del miocardio, I coristi…) • Qualitative analysis of TV advertising through an ad-hoc interpretative grid. The TV spots have been selected from a data-base of 25.000 (selection: 30 spots, 18 Italian and 12 from other countries) • Quantitative content analysis of 137 journal articles through the T-lab software. Articles were published from January 1st 2005 to February 28 2006 and collected in the data-base of Istituto degli Innocenti of Florence.

SAMPLE N = 800 % TV Newspapers Reviews Radio Friends Associations Direct Experiences Internet Professional Experience School/University Church No answers Preliminary quantitative research (Eurisko 2006): the main sources of information for people are… These resultsconfirm the important role assumed by the mass- media communication in the knowledge of the phenomenon Quantitative survey by CATI on a representative sample of italian population of 18-74 years old (Eurisko 2006).

…How is the communication on mass-media about the theme of international adoptions? The social communication is not effective.

…Is social advertising/communication on economic aspects related to international adoption useful? Yes! So, it seems also essential to improve the communication with specific spots.

Step 1 – The abandon The social representation is not consistent with the reality. The theme is represented in its extreme version (rubbish bin, infanticide…),trough situations that are far from the everyday life. In the newspapers the other aspects of uneasiness - negligence, poverty, loneliness, empty affective, etc. - don't appear.

Step 1 – The protagonists Generally, only women and children are represented as protagonists of these “stories”. The role of the father and all the words that remind this role are almost absent (in Tv spot and newspapers) in the movies, the role of the father has a more negative representation, and is described as a secondary figure.

Step 1 – The Institutions In all the mass-media Institutions are represented as weak: • absent from the scene (especially in the adv); in opposition with the affective relationship in the adoptive family (especially in the cinema); with a normative value rather than of support • never associated to the social and economic help role • money and economic costs of adoption are totally absent in all products that we’ve studied, also when we start the T-lab analysis from the lemma “bisogno” (need)

Step 1 – Assistance Starting from the word “assistenza” (assistance) we can find some words that specify the same meaning (Need, Difficulty, Help) and others that propose a "cold assistance", defined by more practical and functional aspects (sanitary, program, formation, etc.). The place of the assistance is the orphanage. No references to the economic aspects. This leads to the second step of the research

Step 2 – Goals & Methodology GOALS • to verify the weight of the variable “money” in the adoptive action; • to point out the needs of a couple during the iter adoption and in the first two years from the conclusion of the adoption; • to figure out whether or not specific financial products can be interesting for potential adoptive families. METHODOLOGY INTENSIVE QUALITATIVE SURVEY • 9 interviews with 6 adoptive families (2 couples from adoptive families; 2 couples waiting for adoption; and 2 couples that quit the adoption iter) and 3 with professionals operating in NOG • 2 Focus Groups (one with 8 members of adoptive families and one with 5 members of families waiting for adoption) EXTENSIVE QUANTITATIVE SURVEY • on line questionnaire on 276 subjects (www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=U811UCgtGIM3m3SCwGurbw_3d_3d)

Step 2 – Findings: framing the issue The problematic aspects of the adoption are: • shortage of resources and uncertainties; • bureaucratic problems, slowness in the times and difficulty in the foreign countries; • attention is not focused on child; • critical relationships between parents during the iter; • feeling judged as couple and as family during the forced selections; • corruption and difficult relationships with different cultural systems; • loneliness during post-adoption period. The problem of money doesn't seem to be a real one, not at an explicit level; it seems to be less important than other motivations that sustain such a choice. This seems to be determined more by a negative attitude toward “talking about money and children” that by a real experience of the people. …we will see…

Step 2 – Findings: framing the issue The association “children and money” is perceived and expressed as: • sadness, something ugly, anger • paradoxical settles, distorted criterions • corruption, affairs, hidden markets, managers of the Institutes and it is represented as: • diffused idea of adoptive parents in the status of multimillionaires • however recognized as symbol of safety for the adoption • associated to the idea that children don't bring money There is a strong association between adoptions and money

Step 2 – Results of on line survey Biographic informations

Step 2 – Results of on line survey Internatiol adoptions: the needs of families

Step 2 – Results of on line survey International adoptions :the problems for families Economic issue is an important aspect in the process of adoption

Step 2 – Results of on line survey Adoptions and economic aspects

Step 2 – Results of on line survey Adoptions and economic aspects Interviews confirm that the issue of economic costs is still a taboo. People can easily talk about money, but this seem to be difficult whenassociated to the issue of adoption. And the fact that the questionnaire was anonymous has allowed the treatment of the taboo of the costs in more open and sincere way.

Step 2 – Results of on line survey Adoptions and economic aspects People expect the governemttoberesponsibleforeconomicproblemsrelatedtointernationaladoption and to help familiesto face them.

Step 2 – Results of on line survey Adoptions and economic aspects People expect more tax allowances for adoptive families

Conclusions Money and costs in adoptions are still a taboo, althoughpeoplecan easily and frequently speak about money in relations to other issues of everyday life. We can observe a difference between what people declare in the on line questionnaire and what people declare in the interviews and in the FG. The association child-adoption-money produces ambivalent reactions. In some cases, a pragmatic and rationalistic attitude prevails and people verbalize keep emotional distance from the economic issue. Whereas in the individual interviews the relationship between adoption and money seems to be something "impure", during the group interviews a dynamic of negation emerged as an emotional matter. The problem of the money is rationally expressed, also in its less convenient aspects: <<the Cambodian State can ask money in black to hurry up everything… Why to pay for having a child? Because it is everything so long and difficult… It’s a blackmail… The costs exist and we cannot denied…>> People are afraid of giving an economic value to the action of the adoption

Conclusions  The economic costs related to the adoption are: • something that both adoptive and biological families have to pay • something that families know before starting the process of international adoption • constituted by known costs and unknown costs • constituted by real costs, necessary costs and also unnecessary costs  Nevertheless, people say that families need to be sustained: • by the Government through economic helps and tax allowances • by the Banks through financial facilitations, and economic help to ONG associations  Possible ways of supporting adoptive families are: • 100% of tax allowances • right of maternity and paternity at job for the adoptive couples • economic support for ONG associations (from the Government, or Foundations, or Banks) • "baby bonus”

Conclusions These findings will be used for different purposes: • for the promotion of a financial product by Banks • for the promotion of additionally fiscal solutions promoted by the Government in cooperation with Banks • to point out the communicative ineffectiveness of Institutions and the role of mass-media in the correct communication of the issue • for an effective commercial adv from Banks

Thank you.

Money And Adoptions: Social Representations, Expectations And Opportunities For Italian Families