Gretchen Sisson

Gretchen Sisson, the author of 'Relinquished: The Politics of Adoption and the Privilege of American Motherhood,' shares her expertise on the often overlooked experiences of birth parents in adoption. She discusses the complexities of open adoptions and the emotional weight carried by birth mothers. The conversation challenges societal narratives that dictate who deserves to be a parent, diving into the legal hurdles surrounding open adoptions and the societal perceptions influencing these decisions. It’s a thought-provoking exploration of grief, choice, and the politics of motherhood.

Gretchen Sisson, a qualitative sociologist from UCSF, dives deep into the politics surrounding adoption and its implications for women's choices in her new book, 'Relinquished.' She uncovers the challenging realities that mothers face when relinquishing their children, particularly in the context of the overturned Roe v. Wade. Sisson critiques the commodification of adoption, the racial dynamics at play, and how these systems perpetuate reproductive injustice. The conversation emphasizes the necessity of amplifying the voices of relinquishing mothers and calls for urgent reform in adoption practices.