Inside the conservative movement to promote adoption post-Dobbs

The MoJo Daily newsletter, Monday through Friday. [View in browser]( [Support our nonprofit journalism]( [Mother Jones Daily Newsletter](     May 23, 2024 A couple months ago, I read the book [Relinquished: The Politics of Adoption and the Privilege of American Motherhood](. It's a fascinating book borne of a decade of study of adoption and the systemic factors that, for many birth mothers, make adoption feel like one of only viable options available to them—even when Roe was still in place. I learned about the book in reading [my colleague Julia Lurie's Q&A with the author,]( sociologist Gretchen Sisson. Today, Julia has a fascinating new story out, [on the conservative movement to promote adoption as an alternative to abortion post-Dobbs](. As she writes: In the two years since the Dobbs decision, politicians and organizers in states with restrictive abortion policies have doubled down on promoting, incentivizing, and expediting adoption. Some states offer [payments]( or [tax credits]( for new adoptive parents. Some focus on [shortening]( the time period before a birth mother can sign away her parental rights or change her mind about placing her child for adoption. More than a dozen [states]( this year have heard legislation to install baby boxes, which can be installed outside places like fire departments and hospitals and which, in theory, give parents a legal and anonymous way to surrender their infants. Many states, like Texas, have increased [funding]( for Alternatives to Abortion programs by millions of dollars. But as Julia writes, these efforts push adoption as a choice—or, better yet, as an alternative to abortion—while ignoring the fact that adoption is too often a last resort for many birth mothers without access to reproductive care and other forms of social support. For the anti-abortion movement, though, this is the point: "They’re looking to promote their answers to a problem they have created by restricting access to reproductive healthcare services," Ashley Underwood, director of abortion rights group Equity Forward, told Julia. Makes sure to [check out Julia's latest piece]( to read about this trend you won't see covered elsewhere—and pick up Relinquished if you're looking to read more. —Julianne McShane Advertisement [Share International]( [Top Story] [Top Story]( [Inside the Conservative Movement to Promote Adoption]( These states banned abortion. Now they're pushing adoption as an empowering choice for pregnant women. BY JULIA LURIE SPONSORED POST     [Sponsored Content]( [Navigating Farm and Ranch Transfers to a New Generation]( An ambitious program supports land access as many farmers approach retirement, posing challenges for America’s food system. THIS CONTENT WAS PAID FOR AND SPONSORED BY [AMERICAN FARMLAND TRUST](. [Trending] [RFK Jr. is even crazier than you might think]( BY DAVID CORN   [The Supreme Court just made it easier for Republicans to get away with racial gerrymandering]( BY ARI BERMAN   [Health facilities and workers in conflict zones suffered a record number of attacks last year]( BY JULIANNE MCSHANE   [Island nations notch a climate win from world's maritime court]( BY ANITA HOFSCHNEIDER Advertisement [Share International]( [Special Feature] [Special Feature]( [The schools where the Western canon is king]( Classical schools are spreading fast. But what are they teaching? BY KIERA BUTLER MOTHER JONES MEMBERSHIP UPDATE   How about something different? That’s how we’ve been thinking about things lately, because when it comes to democracy and journalism, two things we care deeply about, crisis has become [the new normal](, and it’s time to try doing something new. We merged with the Center for Investigative Reporting. It’s such a [strong pairing](, and it’s been inspiring. So instead of all the doom and gloom in the news these days, and thanks to a reader’s comment, we’re focusing on our real sense of optimism as we kick off our first big push [for the donations we need]( since taking that exciting, but also kind of scary, step forward. There’s more in “[Less Dreading, More Doing](,” but if you just want to feel the excitement like we do, here’s video correspondent Garrison Hayes in a video from late last year that we’re just now sharing widely. And here’s [a link to pitch in]( if you can. [Donate]( Did you enjoy this newsletter? Share it on [Facebook]( and [Twitter](. [Mother Jones]( [Donate]( [Donate Monthly]( [Subscribe]( This message was sent to {EMAIL}. To change the messages you receive from us, you can [edit your email preferences]( or [unsubscribe from all mailings.]( For advertising opportunities see our online [media kit.]( Were you forwarded this email? [Sign up for Mother Jones' newsletters today.]( [www.MotherJones.com]( PO Box 8539, Big Sandy, TX 75755