Do looks REALLY matter?

spydermomma

It is >exactly< like a catalog -- because they are trying to "sell" the attractive child for sponsoring. Some of these organizations are wonderful and do a great deal of good to support poor families, keep families together, educate girls, etc. But others take a trememdous amount of "overhead" in salaries and perks and travel for the organizers and give only a small percentage to the children.

The same is true for some adoption photolistings as well, they even have been known to "bait and switch" by getting parents interested in adopting an attractive child with few medical problems, but then that child turns out not to be available.

I agree with you that it is disturbing that they feel they need to put these children in a catalog as if they were for sale.

I can see where it might feel nice and be a good lesson for your own children to have a picture of a child you are sponsoring. And I think that is fine once you have already agreed to sponsor, to exchange letters and photos and maybe even visit the child. But you shouldn't have them listed ahead of time in a "catalog." That is kind of icky.

Santa's Lil' Helper

We sponsor a little girl in Guatemala so she can go to school. I keep her picture on the fridge as a reminder to my children how lucky they are to be able to learn for free in the US and not to take education for granted.

Mary G

Oh I like you! No we don't need pictures to know some children need help. I am all about children having stable, loving homes, just not at the expense of a natural mother losing her child. Adoption is supposed to be about finding homes for children that need them, not about homes looking for children!

Looney Tunes

Check out this website: www.adoptuskids.org

Besides pictures, they even write stuff about their problems, which I find appalling. Who the heck is going to chose a child where they write "LT has behavioral problems and needs parents who can be firm. Counseling will be needed forever."

I understand trying to "get the message out there" but I personally think it is a terrible tactic. I don't like the pictures and I don't like the written descriptions.

These are children, not "show-things."

Serenity71

Gosh kids aren't a cataloged item like Target! (Not in adoption, its not how you become a childs parent. Sponsoring a child is a different ball game.)

The first time I saw a photo of either of my daughters was the day we signed the adoption papers. Before then we didn't even know her name, we had to agree to adoption plans from the Nmother and other details before they allowed us that information, and the same happened the second time around.

macadam

It's just a marketing ploy.

They want you to look at the faces of the children so you can't say no.

I don't know if adoption agencies do this, but I'll be your state does it with the difficult to adopt kids. Mine does. www.adoptpakids.org

Roberta P

The do it to tug at your heart strings. You see the innocent, hurting faces and you will send money.

Our agency has photos of IA children that are special needs. The NSN children you don't see them until you are matched with them. When we "chose" our daughters their physical appearance was not an issue in deciding to adopt them. Their age and special need was all that we considered in making our choice.

When we signed up to sponsor a child we looked for the "ugly" one. We figure most people are drawn to the cute, cuddly child, so we purposely chose the one we thought would have the hardest time being chosen based on looks.

Kid Fleetfoot

Photos or film are shown so the viewer can identify with the kids.

Randy B

I've always figured that in many of these cases the children photographed are not the ones actually being adopted anyway. By the time the books/pamphlets get printed and distributed the children photographed have most likely already been adopted.

Domestically, depending upon your local privacy laws, its pretty difficult to show children waiting adoption. It takes lots of clearance and authorizations in my area to do it at least.

As to the whole topic of photos though, I think it plays to the fact that we are a very visual society now. HD TVs, internet, portable video iPods...everyone wants to see things and in the "advertising" field we all know that appearances "sell" (promote).

Well the pictures of children in poverty makes it more real for many. It makes the connection of the words on paper, MANY people need to see the conditions. If not it is just words on paper.
As for adoption most adoptions if done privatly are arranged before the child is born. The first mom picks parents who she thinks will be best there is no booklet.

Camira B

I find it absolutely appalling, but that's marketing for you. The fact that the children are being marketed is a whole other issue in itself.

Heather Leigh

I agree with you...I also wonder if these are really the children that we will be sponsoring or if they are just "good looking" paid models to sell a product.

Kimberly

I feel the same way.

It's like with adoption. I adopted two kids overseas and they actually asked me if I cared what they looked like. I was shocked! Of course I don't! Their kids that need help!

But some people aren't like you and me and think they need pictures.

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