Join us for a virtual "Evening with Gretchen Sisson, Ph.D." author of "Relinquished: The Politics of Adoption and the Privilege of American Motherhood." This book preview and conversation with the author is open to the public and admission is free with registration.

In a political moment in Ohio where adoption is often invoked as an abortion alternative, what can we learn from the experiences of women who have relinquished children for adoption? Adoption Network Cleveland and partners listed below are pleased to host sociologist Gretchen Sisson, Ph.D. for a special preview of her upcoming book, Relinquished: The Politics of Adoption and the Privilege of American Motherhood (Macmillan, February 2024).

Nationally recognized for her research on women’s experiences with adoption and abortion, Dr. Sisson’s studies on adoption include hundreds of in-depth interviews with women who have relinquished infants for adoption over the past 60 years, with a particular focus on women who have relinquished since Roe v. Wade. Her research examining adoption decision-making after abortion denial (as part of The Turnaway Study) was cited in the Supreme Court’s dissent in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health from Justices Breyer, Kagan, and Sotomayor. In response to the oral arguments and decision in Dobbs, she authored pieces in the Washington Post, The Nation, and the Washington Post (again). Gretchen’s research has been featured on NPR’s All Things Considered and Consider This, as well as in New York Magazine, VOX, and other outlets.

Dr. Sisson will share insights from Relinquished that illustrate birth mothers’ reproductive decision-making, their life-long experiences of adoption, and why these stories matter for us in Ohio. The event will begin with remarks from the author, to be followed by a discussion and Q&A moderated by Kate Livingston, Ph.D., birth mother and founder of Ohio Birthparent Group (active 2010-2017).

For more information on the upcoming book, see: RELINQUISHED: The Politics of Adoption and the Privilege of American Motherhood (relinquishedbook.com).