Original Fathers: An Exploration into the Experiences of Birth Fathers Involved in Adoption in the Mid-20th Century

Abstract

There is a surprising lack of research into the experiences of unmarried fathers whose children were lost to adoption in Britain in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s. Between the first Adoption Act in 1926 and the present day, nearly 90,000 adoptions have taken place. Very little is known about the fathers involved. The information gained from this study, reported by Celia Witney, is set in the context of the social conditions of the mid-20 th century and refers to the legislation that affected the rights of the original father at that time. As it is now possible for social services personnel to contact adoptees on behalf of their birth parents, the findings presented are particularly relevant. They reveal the experiences and reflect the emotions of some original fathers concerning the discovery of their partner's pregnancy, the process of the child's adoption, the search for their adult adopted children and in some cases their contact or reunion with them. The study consists of self-selected contributors and as such is not representative of all unmarried fathers. The cultural attitudes that contributed to the treatment of the unmarried parents, with particular reference to unmarried fathers, are discussed and it is argued that it was the idea that child care was ‘women's business’ that contributed to the exclusion of the fathers from the adoption arrangements.

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