“Fairy-Tale Beginnings Are Often Pretty Bad.” Filling the Gaps of the Adoption Experience with Narrative Inquiry

Authors

Christina B. Gunther, College of Health Sciences, Rush University, USAFollow
Michelle A. Cole, School of Nursing, University of Connecticut, USAFollow
Robin L. Danzak, Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Emerson College, USAFollow

Abstract

This study utilized narrative inquiry to delve into some of the less-celebrated experiences of adoptees and their families. Drawing on focus group data from 17 adult participants with various connections to adoption, we co-constructed three composite narratives centering on darker aspects of the adoption experience: adoptees’ sense of loss, adoption as a secret or taboo, and the challenging implications of interracial adoption. By weaving together participants' authentic voices, the study provides rich insights into the multifaceted experiences of those touched by adoption. The narratives reveal complex emotional journeys of adoptees, including feelings of rejection and grief, identity struggles, and the lifelong impact of being adopted. They also illuminate the challenges that adoptive families face in navigating discussions about adoption, biological origins, and race. The study highlights the importance of open communication within adoptive families, the ongoing nature of processing the adoption experience into adulthood, and the need to broaden societal definitions of family. Overall, this research contributes to a deeper, more empathetic understanding of less talked about aspects of the adoption experience.

Keywords

narrative inquiry, identity, lived experience, interracial adoption, qualitative methods, storytelling

Author Bio(s)

Christina B. Gunther, Ed.D. is an assistant professor in the Ph.D. in Health Sciences program at Rush University in Chicago, IL, USA.  She was formerally at Sacred Heart University, Department of Health Sciences. Dr. Gunther’s expertise lies within the fields of poverty, anti-oppression, social determinants of health and social justice, and health equity in the global arena that result in disparities in health outcomes.  She also explores experiences of adoption through various qualitative methods. Dr. Gunther’s current research focuses on best practices for creating inclusive healthcare curricula using virtual reality.  Her most recent publications include topics on global health, social and sustainable community development, environmental justice, and eliminating race-based medicine. She is a Qualified Administrator for the Intercultural Development Inventory® (IDI®) and the International Conflict Styles Inventory® (ICSI®). Please direct correspondence to christina_gunther@rush.edu

Michelle A. Cole, DNP, MSN, RN, CPN, is a Clinical Associate Professor and Director of Global Learning at the University of Connecticut School of Nursing. A certified pediatric nurse, she has extensive experience in pediatric nursing, nursing education, and global health. Her scholarship and teaching focus on health equity, cultural competence, and experiential learning, with clinical immersions and scholarship in Guatemala, Rwanda, Chile, and the Dominican Republic. She is passionate about mentoring students and helping to cultivate the next generation of nurses.

Robin L. Danzak, Ph.D. is a multilingual researcher and educator whose mixed-methods and qualitative studies examine the intersections among language, writing, and identity of multilingual adolescents and adults. Robin has also explored the adoption experience through qualitative and arts-based methods. Robin was a Fulbright scholar in Italy and studied-taught in Chile for five years. She is passionate about mentoring student research. Robin teaches courses in Communication Sciences & Disorders and Health & Social Change at Emerson College in Boston, where she is a professor and graduate program director.

Publication Date

1-19-2026

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 4.0 International License.

DOI

10.46743/2160-3715/2026.7998

Recommended APA Citation

Gunther, C. B., Cole, M. A., & Danzak, R. L. (2026). “Fairy-tale beginnings are often pretty bad.” Filling the gaps of the adoption experience with narrative inquiry. The Qualitative Report, 31(1), 4980-4998. https://doi.org/10.46743/2160-3715/2026.7998

ORCID ID

0000-0002-6795-6969