Six decades on from the 1960s and 1970s, when thousands of children were forcibly removed from their families and given up for adoption, the UK government is set to issue a formal apology. But as it does so, one former adoption social worker's stark assessment highlights that this painful legacy cannot be solely attributed to state actions or inactions.
Christine Hayes, who worked in adoption during this tumultuous period, has written a searing critique of the societal norms that enabled and encouraged forced adoptions. She argues that responsibility for the trauma inflicted on so many should be shared among families, children's charities, and the mother and baby homes themselves.
Hayes' account is one of stark contrasts – between the state's official policies and the entrenched attitudes that governed everyday life. Unmarried pregnant women were often shunned by their families, told they had brought shame upon them, and forced to leave home until their babies had been adopted. This cruel reality was enabled by a culture where single motherhood was stigmatised, with institutions complicit in perpetuating the myth that these women were 'undesirable'.
The role of children's charities and mother and baby homes is equally problematic. Hayes recounts how these organisations facilitated adoptions with little regard for the emotional well-being of the birth mothers, who were frequently left to suffer in silence.
It wasn't until 2005 that some redress was offered through the Adoption Support Services Regulations, which provided counselling and support to those affected by forced adoption. Hayes' own workshops, where individuals could connect with others who shared similar experiences, played a vital role in dispelling myths and helping birth parents confront their enduring shame.
As the Secretary of State for Education, Bridget Phillipson, confirmed last month, a government apology is long overdue. But Christine Hayes' words serve as a stark reminder that understanding this painful chapter in British history requires more than just official acknowledgement – it demands recognition of the collective societal pressures and individual decisions that enabled these forced adoptions.