Laura Briggs (1) (1964–)

This book does a really solid job of narrating how the issues surrounding reproductive politics (from child care cost problems to gay marriage to welfare) are not the fault of feminists, but racist neoliberal policies aimed at destroying the social safety net. It's very methodical in breaking that down, and drawing it all together under the umbrella of reproduction. I wouldn't say it was the most groundbreaking work I've read? I guess I found the title a little misleading; for me, everything she touched was fairly obviously in the realm of the reproductive and I was interested in stretching that and seeing how it works.

That being said, this is very accessible and could definitely be useful for undergrads; it's mostly well-thought out (there's a bit at the beginning about trans studies that seems slippery at best, but it's easy to ignore for the most part) and she takes care to address racial disparities particularly among Black women and Latina women. (She also includes Native women but it feels kind of more as an add-on in many cases.)… (more)

This is a worthy addition to the growing field of literature that examines political, economic, social, and cultural shifts through the lens of adoption. Despite the fact that adopted people make up a small percentage of the U.S. population, ideas about adoption are nonetheless intricately intertwined with ideas about race, class, gender, and sexuality. Rather than focusing on the children themselves, Briggs instead explores the forces that converge to make non-white children vulnerable to removal and subsequent adoption. She locates these forces in the historical social relationships created by racial and economic institution of slavery, the political colonization of Indian families and their children, and the recent shift to neo-liberalism as a factor in the commodification of non-U.S. children. Finally, Briggs includes an analysis of cultural factors that determined which parents would be deemed acceptable as adoptive or foster parents through a chapter devoted to the idea of gay adoption and marriage.

This book is clearly argued and stays tightly focused on its subject matter and major arguments. The style is readable [and at times a little bit sarcastic] and the author makes no assumptions that readers are familiar with prior adoption literature or broader trends, making it very accessible to readers. Its a well researched work and incorporates a number of primary archival sources and scholarly monographs, as well as popular news sources. Its a welcome complement to the current body of adoption literature.… (more)