1 %

The One-Child Policy was implemented in 1979 to 2015 as a population growth control. By 1992 the Chinese government opened up adoption to the world. Today it is estimated that more than 140,000 children worldwide have been adopted, 82,000 of those children by families in the United States. Of those 82,000 adopted to the U.S. about 73% of the adopting families are White. I am one of the 82,000 children. I am one of the 73% of families.

The implications of this policy predominately left assigned female at birth babies abandoned. Due to the policies strict regulations and legal consequences, families had to abandon their child rather than turn them over to an agency, hospital or orphanage. Leaving no trace or connection back to them to evade prosecution and fines. According to a New York Times article published March 3rd 2023 there is currently a 1 % chance of a Chinese American adoptee would be able to locate their birth family through DNA testing.