Paper short abstract:

In the emotional field of adoptive maternity/paternity by choice, emotions become an area of public scrutiny. This is construed as a condition to legitimize the intervention of experts (social workers, psychologists, judges, legal actors, etc.), with the child's best interest as an alibi.

Paper long abstract:

We present part of the results of a research project centered on single-parenthood by choice. The study has gathered data from three different Spanish regions, and includes interviews with mothers/parents embarked in single-parenting projects through international adoption process, as well as observations in different virtual, formative and associative spaces in which these families participate.

We examine the construction process of a field, "the emotional field of adoptive maternity/paternity", in which the feelings and emotions tied to the adoption process, although pertaining to the private realm, become an area of public scrutiny. This transformation is construed as a condition to legitimize the intervention of adoption experts (social workers, psychologists, pedagogues, judges, social educators, etc.) in the process. The child's best interest is used to legitimize before themselves, before the families and society, the 'intrusion' in this intimate field of single-parent lives. In the case of single men and women this 'intrusion' is strongly oriented towards their sexual lives, the existence or not of a partner (or the project of having one), their emotional stability, the availability or not of social support networks, etc. We also analyze the definitional work performed by institutions and professionals on the affective life of these women/men, as in need of direction and control (examination and evaluation), as well as regulation according to the ideal adoptive maternity/paternity that is held by these professionals/institutions and to the attributions that are made in relation to single-parents' capacity to create a bond with their future child.