The Project
The Oral Histories
To emphasize adoptee heterogeneity, I collected oral histories from six transracial Asian adoptees of varying ages, majors, interests, opinions, etc. to explore in detail the individual contexts of adoptee identity including the intersections of privilege and marginalization that they exist within.
The Syllabus
To highlight the vastness and range of adoptee experiences, I developed a comprehensive syllabus that includes recommended critical theories, novels, and poetry books. Most importantly the syllabus includes the creative exercise used to create the self-portrait recipe. The exercise encourages adoptees to deconstruct and self-reflect on the complexities of their identity through a creative, art-making process.
The Cookbook
The syllabus exercise prompts adoptees to create a recipe that they feel reflects their identity. The prompt can be taken metaphorically/symbolically and leaves room for significant artistic liberty. The recipes are collected and compiled into a cookbook which is featured on this website.
How the project came to be
Growing up as a transracial Chinese adoptee, my sense of self was largely shaped by a white saviorist and glorified narrative of the adoption process. While I felt that this singular narrative did not reflect my struggle with cultural and racial identity, without a community or exposure to alternative representations of adoptees I internalized these harmful messages. Only in college, when I first attended a transracial Asian adoptee club meeting, did I learn that other adoptees experienced similar emotions of disorientation, grief, and loneliness in their childhood. I realized that contrary to misconceptions, our story does not end with adoption; we struggle with identity, family, and sense of belonging well into our adulthood. Furthermore, while we all share similarities, I was most surprised by how each adoptee still had a unique story to tell.
I was reminded that we are a diverse community continuously navigating through a society that does not make space for the multitudes within us. In order to truly pursue a mission of equality, diversity, and inclusion at Bryn Mawr and beyond, we must not only combat simplistic whitewashed narratives of adoption but make visible the complexity and multiplicity of adoptee identity. The adoptee community cannot be truly supported when we are portrayed through a simplistic narrative that reduces adoptees to a monolith and undermines our realities.
Therefore, this project aims to educate individuals both within and outside of Bryn Mawr on the richness and hybridity of the transracial adoptee community. While the project has a focus on transracial Asian adoptees, this site aims to open discourse to other international adoptee identities as well. The syllabus draws on many hybrid marginalized identities and is constructed to encourage other adoptees to submit work as well. Even now, adoptee identity is constantly transforming due to geopolitics and forms of neo-colonialism. Through this project, I hope we adoptees learn to give ourselves grace as others learn how to make space for our growing pains.
About Me
Celeste Bloom
I am an English Major and a sociology minor in my senior year at Bryn Mawr College. As a transracial Chinese adoptee, I hope to increase visibility and promote understanding of adoptee identities on campus and beyond. I plan to continue research and education in Asian American and Adoptee identity after graduation. Outside of class, I write for a feminist literary magazine, where I publish creative pieces about navigating adoptee, queer, and Asian American identity. I also like to play badminton and cook with my friends.
