莉倩 Lì Qiàn

In 1980, China instigated the One Child Policy to control a then-surging population. In hopes of giving birth to baby boys, thousands of baby girls were abandoned to be adopted by predominantly Western, Christian families. Thus, the cultural phenomenon of transracial adoption raised several generations of Chinese girls with white families, I being among the many.

Over seven-thousand miles from my birth place, I grew up in the Midwest where my proximity to whiteness was always something to be questioned. In search of answers, I sift through stacks of paperwork exchanged between my parents and adoption agencies, deconstructing the transactional rhetoric woven into the fabric of these institutions. Through the touchable remnants of my past, I photograph my baby clothes from the orphanage as a way to honor 莉倩 Lì Qiàn – my First name.

Many perceive my adoption journey as one of fortune, labeling me as “lucky.” Yet, this simple word neglects to portray the intricate layers of the adoption experience. It reduces the profound complexity of the adoptive relationship to mere chance, overlooking the nuanced power dynamics between adopter and adoptee. “Lucky” perpetuates the notion of adoption as transactional and conditional, devoid of its emotional depth. My photographic exploration delves into this complexity, seeking to appreciate my Chinese identity in a predominately white upbringing.