Surrender

The book, Mending Fences: Building Bridges is a work describing the life-long process of adoption with particular emphasis on surrender and the effects on birth mothers. lt is a multi-faceted work including not only the history of adoption, but also the evolving changes in that institution today. It is an in-depth look at how little support was given to women surrendering children in the years of 1955 to 1970. This study and its conclusion is based on personal interviews and a survey of women who surrendered infants. lt includes extensive case histories as well as the outline of a workshop created to help prepare women for the aftermath of the search and reunion process today. Also included are an annotated bibliography and resource guide to adoption support groups, publications, and Internet sites of interest.This work will give insight into the world of maternity homes and disrupted families. lt also shows the loneliness of young women essentially abandoned by their friends, families and boyfriends and problems in their emotional development after the birth and surrender of their child. The taboos of sex and unmarried pregnancies are discussed as well as avenues of choice available to pregnant women today.