--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: International adoption does not begin to…" description: "\"International adoption does not begin to solve the problems of the world's orphaned children. It's truly not the answer. At the same time, it solves a ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c9/melissa-fay-greene-48023_adoption_international-adoption-does-not-begin-to_1526843.jpg" --- # International adoption does not begin to solve the… ![“International adoption does not begin to solve the problems of the world's orphaned children. It's truly not the answer. At the same time, it solves a problem for a few. I think it can be a brilliant solution to the problem of adults wanting a child in their lives or wanting more children in their…” quote by Melissa Fay Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c9/melissa-fay-greene-48023_adoption_international-adoption-does-not-begin-to_1526843.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c9/melissa-fay-greene-48023_adoption_international-adoption-does-not-begin-to_1526843.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c9/melissa-fay-greene-48023_adoption_international-adoption-does-not-begin-to_1526843.jpg) > “International adoption does not begin to solve the problems of the world's orphaned children. It's truly not the answer. At the same time, it solves a problem for a few. I think it can be a brilliant solution to the problem of adults wanting a child in their lives or wanting more children in their lives and the problem of children who want parents in their lives.” [Melissa Fay Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-fay-greene/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Adoption alone cannot address the systemic issues facing orphaned children worldwide, though it may fulfill personal desires for parenthood and benefit some children seeking families. **In simple terms:** Adoption isn’t a full solution to global orphan problems. Key Takeaway Recognize adoption’s limits and support broader child‑welfare reforms. Themes adoption child welfare family social policy Mood reflective concerned Type ethical analytical When to use this quote - family planning - foster care reform - international aid - parental counseling Key Concepts systemic inequality human rights psychological needs Questions to Reflect On - How can societies better protect orphaned children beyond adoption? - What responsibilities do prospective parents have toward systemic change? A Different Perspective Adoption may overlook root causes like poverty and conflict. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adoption](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adoption/) [Adults](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adults/) [Brilliant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brilliant/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Parent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parent/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Wanting more](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wanting-more/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [You often hear attacks on international adoption as robbing a child of his or her culture, and that's both true and false. It's true…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-fay-greene/you-often-hear-attacks-on-international-adoption-as-robbing-a-child/) [Melissa Fay Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-fay-greene/) > [I feel that adoption is a good idea to control population. This would also help orphaned children grow up in a normal way in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akshaye-khanna/i-feel-that-adoption-is-a-good-idea-to-control-population-this-would/) [Akshaye Khanna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akshaye-khanna/) > [“Those institutions—the so-called “industrial schools,” orphanages and “Magdalene” laundries—were run by certain religious orders in Ireland for the better part of a century, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-mckenna/those-institutions-the-so-called-industrial-schools-orphanages-and/) [Christina McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-mckenna/) > [What's wrong with our children? Adults telling children to be honest while lying and cheating. Adults telling children to not be violent while marketing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-wright-edelman/what-s-wrong-with-our-children-adults-telling-children-to-be-honest/) [Marian Wright Edelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-wright-edelman/) > [Childhood depression tends to be more common in inner cities, being most frequently related to serious social deprivation, bullying, domestic violence, wartime experience and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-winston/childhood-depression-tends-to-be-more-common-in-inner-cities-being/) [Robert Winston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-winston/) > [Violence is a big problem. Too many children are dying. Too many children. We must do something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-giffords/violence-is-a-big-problem-too-many-children-are-dying-too-many/) [Gabrielle Giffords](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-giffords/) > [“After all, this was a REAL problem, what could the children possibly hope to achieve on the internet?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-briggs/after-all-this-was-a-real-problem-what-could-the-children-possibly/) Andy Briggs > [Nutrition isn't the only problem; our children also aren't getting enough exercise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-cartwright/nutrition-isn-t-the-only-problem-our-children-also-aren-t-getting/) [Matt Cartwright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-cartwright/) > [A mother, woman or female animals, both for suffer the same problem would their children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/a-mother-woman-or-female-animals-both-for-suffer-the-same-problem/) Mak\_786 > [The problem with most children's hospitals is that they are passive. They are high quality. They are filled with the best doctors. But their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-redlener/the-problem-with-most-children-s-hospitals-is-that-they-are-passive/) [Irwin Redlener](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-redlener/) > [Every walk should offer some knotty problem for the children to think out-"Why does that leaf float on the water, and this pebble sink?"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-mason/every-walk-should-offer-some-knotty-problem-for-the-children-to-think/) [Charlotte Mason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-mason/) > [It doesn't have to be a problem for children to be fat, but it does affect you: you aren't as happy in that skin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-melling/it-doesn-t-have-to-be-a-problem-for-children-to-be-fat-but-it-does/) [Harry Melling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-melling/) > [Boys get unfairly labeled as morally defective, hyperactive, undisciplined, or 'problem children,' when quite often the problem is not with the boys but with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gurian/boys-get-unfairly-labeled-as-morally-defective-hyperactive/) [Michael Gurian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gurian/) > [“The problem is always being the children’s mommy, or the minister’s wife and never being myself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-friedan/the-problem-is-always-being-the-children-s-mommy-or-the-minister-s/) [Betty Friedan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-friedan/) > [I'm not really interested in writing or reading about people who are nice and easy. I like the problem children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jami-attenberg/i-m-not-really-interested-in-writing-or-reading-about-people-who-are/) [Jami Attenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jami-attenberg/) ## More by Melissa Fay Greene > [“But I believe we don't know folks, we're acquainted with them. There's always something in an individual you ain't never going to know.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-fay-greene/but-i-believe-we-don-t-know-folks-we-re-acquainted-with-them-there-s/) [Melissa Fay Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-fay-greene/) > [“Who was going to raise 12 million children? That was what I suddenly wanted to know…Who was teaching 12 million children how to swim…Who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-fay-greene/who-was-going-to-raise-12-million-children-that-was-what-i-suddenly/) [Melissa Fay Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-fay-greene/) > [You often hear attacks on international adoption as robbing a child of his or her culture, and that's both true and false. It's true…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-fay-greene/you-often-hear-attacks-on-international-adoption-as-robbing-a-child/) [Melissa Fay Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-fay-greene/) > [There are many children who need help, and anyone who wants to reach out and adopt a child from foster care or from a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-fay-greene/there-are-many-children-who-need-help-and-anyone-who-wants-to-reach/) [Melissa Fay Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-fay-greene/) > [There's a culture in orphanages that children are eager to escape from, and it's a culture of being reared as a group and not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-fay-greene/there-s-a-culture-in-orphanages-that-children-are-eager-to-escape/) [Melissa Fay Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-fay-greene/) > [“So how does it happen that -- while most people instinctively try to save themselves and their families from a catastrophe -- a few…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-fay-greene/so-how-does-it-happen-that-while-most-people-instinctively-try-to/) [Melissa Fay Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-fay-greene/) > [A Georgia peach, a real Georgia peach, a backyard great-grandmother's orchard peach, is as thickly furred as a sweater, and so fluent and sweet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-fay-greene/a-georgia-peach-a-real-georgia-peach-a-backyard-great-grandmother-s/) [Melissa Fay Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-fay-greene/) [Explore all 8 Melissa Fay Greene quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-fay-greene/) ## More Adoption quotes > [The purpose of this book is to supply, in the form suitable for laymen, guidance in the adoption and execution of an investment policy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-graham/the-purpose-of-this-book-is-to-supply-in-the-form-suitable-for-laymen/) [Benjamin Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-graham/) > [ Next came the Patent laws. These began in England in 1624; and, in this country, with the adoption of our constitution. Before then \[these?\],… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/next-came-the-patent-laws-these-began-in-england-in-1624-and-in-this/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [I think adoption becomes complicated whenever the biological parents are alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-haven/i-think-adoption-becomes-complicated-whenever-the-biological-parents/) [James Haven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-haven/) > [Somehow destiny comes into play. These children end up with you and you end up with them. It's something quite magical.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-kidman/somehow-destiny-comes-into-play-these-children-end-up-with-you-and/) [Nicole Kidman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-kidman/) > [I have a lot of respect for my birth mother I know she must have had a lot of love for me to want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/faith-hill/i-have-a-lot-of-respect-for-my-birth-mother-i-know-she-must-have-had/) [Faith Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/faith-hill/) > [Despite the reams of paperwork, obstacles worthy of a horse show, and a wait that can rival an elephant's gestation, adoption feels no different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-simon/despite-the-reams-of-paperwork-obstacles-worthy-of-a-horse-show-and-a/) [Scott Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-simon/) > [“Some adventures should never be repeated.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-l-hopper/some-adventures-should-never-be-repeated/) Mike L. Hopper > [Some women just skip having babies or adopt because they don't want to get fat or they haven't put in the time to find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaime-pressly/some-women-just-skip-having-babies-or-adopt-because-they-don-t-want/) [Jaime Pressly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaime-pressly/) > [“I love Russia because Russia gave me you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-m-simmons/i-love-russia-because-russia-gave-me-you/) John M. Simmons > [I've never been keen on open adoption. It doesn't seem to solve the main problem with adoption, which is that somebody feels she was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-didion/i-ve-never-been-keen-on-open-adoption-it-doesn-t-seem-to-solve-the/) [Joan Didion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-didion/) > [“Yes, I see why we endured infertility and a lengthy adoption process now, but I don’t know all the reasons for all the struggles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-wells/yes-i-see-why-we-endured-infertility-and-a-lengthy-adoption-process/) Ashley Wells > [As we grew to love South Australia, we felt that we were in an expanding society, still feeling the bond to the motherland, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-helen-spence/as-we-grew-to-love-south-australia-we-felt-that-we-were-in-an/) [Catherine Helen Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-helen-spence/) > [Every great movement must experience three stages: ridicule, discussion, adoption.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stuart-mill/every-great-movement-must-experience-three-stages-ridicule-discussion/) [John Stuart Mill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stuart-mill/) > [With all the chaos, pain and suffering in the world, the fact that my adoption of a child from who was living in an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madonna-ciccone/with-all-the-chaos-pain-and-suffering-in-the-world-the-fact-that-my/) [Madonna Ciccone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madonna-ciccone/) > [“The Friends Thou Hast And Their Adoption Tried Grapple Them To Thy Soul With Hooks Of Steel”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/the-friends-thou-hast-and-their-adoption-tried-grapple-them-to-thy-2/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) [Browse all 560 Adoption quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adoption/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "International adoption does not begin to solve the problems of the world's orphaned children. 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