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Articles / Autistic first-time mother, 22, killed herself hours after learning her six ....

« Last post by RDsmum on April 21, 2024, 02:44:39 PM »

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13327201/Autistic-mother-killed-baby-adoption-inquest.html

Autistic first-time mother, 22, killed herself hours after learning her six-month-old baby might be put up for adoption, inquest hears

    Fern Foster died on July 8, 2020, after learning that her baby might be adopted
    The inquest concluded that local authority failings contributed to her death
    For confidential support, call Samaritans on 116 123, visit samaritans.org or visit https://www.thecalmzone.net/get-support

By Lettice Bromovsky

Published: 10:39, 19 April 2024 | Updated: 13:34, 19 April 2024

An autistic mother took her own life hours after being told her six-month-old baby might be put up for adoption, an inquest has found.  Fern Foster, 22, died on July 8, 2020, after an email sent to her partner by his solicitor outlined the news that their child might be adopted.  Fern's baby had gone into foster care almost a month after she was born, in January 2020, after the support Fern's family believe she was entitled to was not put into place.  The inquest which concluded yesterday found that a lack of an independent advocate on a regular, consistent and continuous basis contributed to Fern's decision to take her own life.  The court heard that Fern, from Monks Risborough, Bucks, was diagnosed with autism at 15 and struggled to get the support she needed, often using self-harm as a way of communicating her distress.  Fern found out she was pregnant on 25 July 2019 and shortly after, Buckinghamshire Children's Services became involved.  The court heard that Fern, who aspired to become an English teacher, was delighted when she found out she was pregnant, and the news changed her outlook on life.  While she was pregnant, and up to the point of her child being taken from her, she did not engage in any self-harming or other behaviour that would put her or her baby at risk.  It heard how Fern had described the process that ultimately led to her child being taken out of her care as a 'runaway train'.  Senior Coroner for Buckinghamshire Crispin Butler gave a narrative conclusion, recording the cause of death as suicide.  He added that the lack of an independent advocate and the way in which news indicating the adoption of Fern's child was communicated to her was contributing more than minimally to her decision to end her own life.  The court heard how Fern needed help at a much earlier stage from an independent advocate who could help her understand and engage with professionals.  This was the single largest reasonable adjustment that could have been made to support Fern's needs.  Fern had previously indicated intentions of taking her own life were her child adopted, and the court heard that the manner in which plans indicating adoption were communicated to her was a key trigger for Fern's actions.  No communication plan had been put in place and Fern became aware of the news via an email sent to her partner by his solicitor.  Fern's family describe her as bright, kind, caring and conscientious and someone who left a lasting impression with everyone she met.  Fern's sister Rowan said: 'We are pleased that the lack of advocacy provided in Fern's care, and the inappropriate delivery of the proposed care plan for adoption that the local authority had submitted, have been recognised as the causes of Fern's death.  Mothers who face their children being removed should be supported, especially autistic mothers, as autistic women have a 13 times higher risk of death by suicide.  It is tragic that there was never a clear plan to support Fern to be a mother, nor to protect her safety when she was told that would not be possible.  These essential requirements were repeatedly ignored, inevitably pushing Fern to breaking point. This was no way to treat a vulnerable, disabled, first time mum.  We believe that the lack of understanding and acceptance of autism in women and girls significantly contributed to the poor care that Fern received.  She was diagnosed late, repeatedly labelled with a personality disorder that she did not have, and the stigma around this led to her being harmed.  Fern was open about her suicidality, yet she was not taken seriously.  The misdiagnosis of personality disorders must end, as must the punitive and dangerous culture of care which comes alongside them.  Finally, we feel that the right of autistic parents to access the support they deserve is not adequately protected in policy or law. It is imperative that this changes and that autistic parents are protected in future.'

Caleb Bawdon, a Leigh Day solicitor who represented the family said: 'Fern's family welcome the coroner's conclusion which acknowledges that she was badly let down before her death.  It is approaching four years since Fern's death but her family have been clear from the very start about the difference that access to independent advocacy would have made to the outcome. 
'It is a testament to the strength and courage of her family during this time that the coroner has now agreed with them, and they are grateful for the care and consideration he took in conducting his investigation.'

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Adoption - Books, Theatre and Films / Coming home to Self: The Adopted Child Grows Up

« Last post by RDsmum on April 19, 2024, 02:11:58 PM »

Coming home to Self: The Adopted Child Grows Up - Nancy Verrier

Coming Home to Self is a book about becoming aware. It is written for all members of the adoption adoptees, birth parents, and adoptive parents as well as those who are in relationship with them, including professionals. It explains the influence imprinted upon the nuerological system and, thus, on future functioning. It explains how false beliefs create fear and perpetuate being ruled by the wounded child. It is a book which will help adoptees discover their authentic selves after living without seeing themselves reflected back all their lives.

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Adoption - Books, Theatre and Films / Mommie Dearest

« Last post by Forgotten Mother on April 17, 2024, 10:55:53 AM »

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mommie_Dearest

Mommie Dearest is a memoir and expos? written by Christina Crawford, the adopted daughter of Academy Award winning actress Joan Crawford. Published in 1978, it attracted much controversy for its portrayal of Joan Crawford as a cruel, unbalanced, and alcoholic mother, with Crawford's other twin daughters, household staff, and family friends denouncing it as sensationalized fiction. It was turned into a 1981 film of the same title starring Faye Dunaway.

In the book, Christina alleges that Joan Crawford placed far more importance on her cinematic career than her family life, and that Joan later was an alcoholic in the 1960s. She also claims that Joan had sexual affairs with various men, whom Christina was required to call "Uncle." Christina claimed that Joan's controlling behavior continued throughout Christina's adulthood, asserting that Joan was jealous of Christina's acting career in the 1960s, to the point of taking over Christina's role in the soap opera The Secret Storm while Christina was in the hospital recovering from an operation to remove an ovarian cyst. The book culminates with Christina learning that she and her brother, Christopher, were intentionally disinherited upon the death of their mother for "reasons known to them".

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Articles / A single mother at 16, I was forced by my parents to give up my baby for adoptio

« Last post by Forgotten Mother on April 13, 2024, 04:43:18 PM »

https://metro.co.uk/2022/07/31/as-a-single-mother-at-16-i-was-forced-to-give-up-my-baby-for-adoption-17029778/

A single mother at 16, I was forced by my parents to give up my baby for adoption
Jill Killington Published Jul 31, 2022, 9:30am

When I found out I was pregnant at the age of 16, I was shocked.  It was 1967 and I had been in a steady relationship with my 17-year-old boyfriend for six months by that point. When I told him, he was actually excited.  Suddenly, we talked about getting married and he said how pleased he was at becoming a dad.  But three months into my pregnancy, my parents found out and put a stop to all of that. Both of our parents were firm that the baby should be adopted, so that?s when my boyfriend simply left.  My parents then involved our family doctor, who put me in touch with a Church of England social and moral welfare officer. I felt I didn?t have a say in the matter. What followed was an agonising forced adoption where my baby was taken away from me.  I was just one of an estimated 185,000 mothers who were coerced into giving up their babies throughout the 1950s, 60s and 70s. It?s why I fully support the recommendations of a recent report by the Joint Committee on Human Rights for the Government to apologise to people like me.  One of the biggest challenges of being young, single, and pregnant in 1967 was the abject shame bestowed upon me and therefore the shame transferred to myself. In most people?s opinion, I had committed the ultimate sin a fallen woman.  My social worker, family doctor, and my parents all told me it would be heartless to keep my baby with the stigma of illegitimacy forced upon him. I felt worthless, not listened to, not supported emotionally, and with no counselling or advice, nor any mention of financial support, which I now know would have been available.  My parents allowed me to stay at home until my baby?s birth but made it clear that if I wanted to keep him, I would have to leave home and fend for myself. Throughout my pregnancy, I felt very alone, very scared, and very upset.  The birth itself was a lonely experience.  The nurses showed no empathy whatsoever and I had no choice but to get through it on my own. Even before my baby was born, I had felt a strong bond with him it was as if it was me and him against the world.  Those feelings became even more intense after his birth when I got to care for him day and night for the 10 days I was in hospital. Visiting times were restricted to fathers only in the evening, and when that happened I would take my son from his crib and sit and nurse him alone.  I lavished him with love and attention. I wanted to give him all the love I could in the short 10 days we would be together.  During that time, I held out in the hope that my boyfriend would suddenly return and we would be together again with our baby. Unfortunately, that didn?t happen, and that?s when I realised that I was going to lose my son forever.  I left the hospital and had to take my son to his foster carer on Christmas Eve. It was the most terrible time for me.  I was inconsolable for many days so much so that my mother eventually contacted the foster carer to ask if I could go to see him. Kindly, she allowed this, and I could even take him for walks in his pram, which gave me huge comfort.  I was allowed to do this up until the day came when we had to travel down to London to take him to the adoption offices. Once there, a lady came into the room and asked if she could hold him, then immediately told me to kiss him goodbye.  That would be the last time I saw him for a very long time. It was devastating.  Back in the day, the law was that mothers and children should never have any further contact once the adoption was finalised, so I had to sign a legal document to that effect.  The people who should?ve been supporting me constantly told me time and time again: ?If you love your baby, you will give him up? or ?You will put all this behind you and get on with your life?.

If only people knew how impossible this was.  In the ensuing years, I was always thinking of the son I had lost wondering where he was and what he was doing. I?d try to reach out to him spiritually just by sending him thoughts every year, especially on his birthday.  Little did I know then that he was doing the same throughout all those missing years.  Then with changes in adoption law in 1975, it became possible for adopted adults over 18 to have access to their birth records and a contact register was set up. So on his 18th birthday as the only present I could give him I added my name to the register in 1985.  It felt like a eureka moment finally there was a possibility he might want to find me. Nine years later in 1994, I received a letter out of the blue asking for details of my whereabouts. It was from my son, Ian.  To say I was overjoyed would be putting it mildly, but it was also hugely emotional. In the days before email, our contact with each other was by airmail letter. This is when I learned he?d moved to Auckland after his family emigrated when he was just six years old.  We must have written dozens of letters over the next few months, until the day came when I flew out to New Zealand for us to meet for the very first time in over 26 years.  One of the first things he said to me was: ?Now I know where I get my blue eyes from?. We had a wonderful time together sharing memories and feelings. He took me to some of his favourite places in New Zealand the beautiful beaches, the forest and other landmarks that had formed part of his childhood.  When I had to fly back to the UK after two weeks of being there, it was like losing him all over again. Our reunion brought back so many emotional issues coping with loss, grief, bereavement, anger, depression, melancholy.  Since then, the relationship my son and I have has grown immeasurably in ways that we could never have dreamed of. I?ve lost count of the number of times we?ve spent together either me going to New Zealand alone and with the rest of my family, or just with my husband. He?s been over to the UK maybe half a dozen times as well.  We are definitely all one family now myself, my husband, other two children and granddaughters, as well as Ian, his wife and his two daughters.  I consider myself very fortunate to have the support of other mothers in the same situation, by virtue of peer group support meetings held regularly at the PAC-UK offices in Leeds. Just thinking about all the ?what ifs?, and how it might have been for us if we hadn?t been parted in such a cruel way can be all consuming  Thankfully, Ian has never harboured any grudges or resentment about his adoption.  The campaign for an apology from the Government has been ongoing for many years now thanks to the Movement for Adoption Apology. This is why we are all so thankful for the recent outcome of the Joint Committee for Human Rights, which was chaired by Labour MP Harriet Harman.  The Committee?s recommendation was for the Government to give a long overdue public apology on behalf of the State for the wrongs done to us. It also advocates for funding, counselling, better access to birth documents, and support for all the families who have suffered for so long.  I and many mothers like me fully endorse that recommendation.  All mothers deserve to be better supported. We shouldn?t expect babies and children to be taken from their birth families and then those families deserted and left to their own devices. It doesn?t serve the mothers or children well.  Those mothers like myself have been the forerunners. Because of our pioneering and campaigning, we have helped to force through changes to adoption policy and practice, and we will continue to do so.   We should be acknowledged for our patience and suffering. We definitely deserve an official apology, which would vindicate those of us who have been vilified for so many years.

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Articles / 'We had our babies taken from us we didn't give them away'

« Last post by Forgotten Mother on April 06, 2024, 11:54:05 AM »

https://news.stv.tv/scotland/year-after-nicola-sturgeons-forced-adoption-apology-time-is-running-out-for-mothers-to-find-children

'We had our babies taken from us we didn't give them away'

Jeannot Farmer urges Scottish Government to get answers for victims affected by historic forced adoption 'before it is too late.'  Women who were forced to give their babies up for adoption have made an urgent plea for help finding out what happened to their children.  Campaigners said the words in an apology made by the Scottish Government last year ?lose their worth every day? without measures to help victims of the ?ongoing injustice?.  It comes a year after former first minister Nicola Sturgeon delivered an official apology in the Scottish Parliament to those who have been affected by historic forced adoption policies.  The recognition was the first formal apology in the UK to tens of thousands of unmarried mothers ?shamed? and ?coerced? into having their babies adopted.  Group Movement for an Adoption Apology sent a letter and knitted baby bootees to over 60 MSPs urging them to back the campaign.  Jeannot Farmer warns time is running out for families.  She told STV News: ?We chose to put out a statement expressing concern that people are still passing away not knowing what happened to their children.  The pain associated with that is severe.  I know what it was like to find my son after 31 years and how every birthday was worse than the last one not knowing where he was.  I can?t imagine that being doubled. We have friends in that situation.  Living with the stigma all of those years is very difficult. But the stigma is nothing compared to the loss of your child.?

Jeannot was one of thousands of women forced to give up her baby for adoption.  At the age of 22, she gave birth to a boy while she was still a fourth year university student.  Despite having explored options with social services, she did not want to give up her son.  However, she was told while she was in hospital that her baby would be put up for adoption.  ?Sometimes I go back to the apology to remember what was said. Words like ?historic injustice? are meaningful and important. What happened was cruel,? she said.

?That day, the stigma and disgrace of giving my baby up for adoption was removed from me. Now I don?t have anyone thinking I have submitted my child for adoption voluntarily. That was done to me.  My child was not taken, not given.?

It is estimated around 60,000 women in Scotland were forced to give up their babies throughout the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s.  Hundreds of thousands of children were given up for adoption between 1949 and 1976 across the UK, at a time when unmarried mothers were often rejected by their families and ostracised by society.  Adoptions were generally handled through agencies run by the Church of England, the Roman Catholic Church and the Salvation Army.  What you?ll find is most mothers it happened to don?t really know what happened to them,? Jeannot said.

?We had this idea mothers giving babies up for adoption analysed the risks and benefits of keeping or giving them up, then came up with a rational decision. That happened to no one.  A far more common story is the mothers gave birth, were sent to another room to hold the baby for a minute, then that baby was gone and never seen again.?

The group Movement for an Adoption Apology made a number of recommendations, such as councils delivering trauma-informed counselling services; easier birth record access; reunion services and formal apologies from institutions which administered services that resulted in coerced or forced adoption.  But campaigners insist measures discussed in the Parliament on that day have ?failed to emerge?.  While work is currently underway to deliver funding for peer-support services, Jeannot said more work must be done to allow victims to access records.  The system is already in place in states across Australia, where around 250,000 are estimated to have been affected by the practice.  Jeannot said thousands risk being left with unanswered questions about their identity without the government taking action.  ?It?s incredibly urgent,? Jeannot said. ?People are dying.  People should be allowed to know the name of the person they have lost and find out if they might still be alive.  We are losing the opportunity to pass on important information to our families and pass on a legacy for their relatives.  Those questions, the hurt and the grief does not end with the passing of the father and the mother. Those ripples extend beyond.  It?s also about passing on medical information; if a mother, sister or aunt has breast cancer, there is no way to tell a daughter who was adopted to get tested for the gene.  It?s about what the children inherit too; ?why do I have that shape of my nose?? ?Why am I good at art?? People want to know these things.?

Jeannot said that it is important to remember mothers and adoptees reserve the right to refuse contact.  She added: ?People have a right to privacy, but people also have a right to information. It?s about a balance in-between those two things.  But if our children had been taken by a random stranger, no one would question our right to know who they are.  That?s what happened to our children who were taken. We didn?t give them away.?

Marking the anniversary Natalie Don, Minister for Children, Young People and Keeping the Promise said:  ?I acknowledge the immense pain and suffering that adoptees, mothers and families have endured as a result of these unjust practices. Addressing the harms caused remains a priority for this Government.  We are establishing a series of lived experience sessions on historic forced adoption, to be facilitated by the Scottish Government?s Principal Psychological Adviser.  These sessions will explore collaborative solutions and will discuss what form of support is needed to address the emotional and psychological impact of historic forced adoption for adoptees, mothers and families.  We are also exploring what more we can do to ensure people affected by historic forced adoption are able to easily access the right information and support when they need it.  This includes working with both the National Records of Scotland and Scottish Court and Tribunals Service in order to assist people with the practical aspects of accessing records, as well as signposting to further support.  We continue to fund the charity, Health in Mind, to provide specialist support through peer support groups. Monthly peer support sessions are now being held for mothers and an adoptees group will begin shortly.?

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Articles / Roseanne Barr, 71, Poses with Daughter She Gave Up for Adoption Fans React....

« Last post by Forgotten Mother on April 04, 2024, 11:45:51 AM »

https://news.amomama.com/424919-roseanne-barr-71-poses-with-daughter-she.html?utm_source=facebook.com&fbclid=IwAR0qHmIMkjmvcJBi1bUoiU_lKu-fMeFwLMS3Ktcok9mpuJXJPWWNBbre_K8_aem_ASvfZDW9jjuF1K30a7wnjiIHD-SZK1pyOX286UyhOD6cqhZkoDZg1TWM56OvStwe1rj1yhgKMX4oSZiby9xsqRac

Roseanne Barr, 71, Poses with Daughter She Gave Up for Adoption Fans React to Their Resemblance
By Bettina Dizon
Apr 02, 2024
12:15 A.M.

Roseanne Barr recently shared a heartwarming picture with her daughter, Brandi Brown, on Instagram, where they wore matching clothing. Fans were amazed by the strong resemblance between the television star and the daughter she reunited with at 17.  Roseanne Barr's post showcased the duo in a cute coordinated outfit: Barr, cozy in a beige beanie, and her daughter, Brandi Brown, sporting a similar gray beanie. Both mother and daughter also wore statement shirts. Standing side-by-side in what seemed to be a kitchen, the two stood smiling.  The post quickly became a focal point for fans and followers, many of whom couldn't help but comment on the striking resemblance between Barr and Brown.  One fan shared, "She looks just like you. I was adopted b u t [sic] my bio mom was not interested in a reunion. Happy for you two."

Echoing this sentiment, another remarked, "I can see the resemblance."

The stream of comments continued with expressions of awe and happiness for the mother-daughter pair. "Wow, there is a huge resemblance. Love this for both of you," one wrote, while another added, "She looks just like you."

Barr captioned the post, "Oldest bb 52 yrs old reunited @ aged 17! GD is good." emphasizing her profound happiness in being with her daughter.  While Barr's post may seem like the ordinary mother and daughter picture, it holds more significance to the two given their broken past. Brown is the television personality's daughter, whom she had given up for adoption decades ago.  Years back, at the tender age of 18, Barr faced the unimaginable decision of giving up her baby girl for adoption. She was 17 when she got pregnant out of wedlock, and although she wanted to keep the baby, she could not afford to do so.  "I got on welfare and rented a room for 50 bucks a month. I turned on the water, and cockroaches came out of the spigot. Outside, there were drunks. I just couldn?t go on there, so I went away to Denver and moved into a Salvation Army home for unwed mothers," she revealed.

Despite the heartache, she decided with her daughter's future in mind, to entrust her to the Jewish Family & Children?s Service in Denver. Yet, even in that moment of separation, Barr whispered a promise of reunion to her newborn daughter, that they would be reunited when she turned 18.  Years passed, and in a twist that seems almost fated, Barr's prediction came true under the most unlikely circumstances. A tabloid's invasive search led to the revelation of Brown's identity and her connection to Barr.   Then the tabloid called her, Barr was initially upset. She had left enough information for Brown to find her at age 21 and even told her succeeding children about the adoption. With the tabloid's interference, Brown's address, school, and adoptive parents became known. Meanwhile, she did not know her mother's name.  In a moment of panic, Barr hired a private detective to reconnect with Brown before the media could exploit their story. The reunion between Barr and her daughter, born on May 16, 1971, came two days later, but only through a phone call.  Brown learned that her daughter was raised by Stanley and Gail Brown in Denver. The circumstances surrounding Brown's adoption and the eventual reunion with Barr read like a script from a movie.  "What was really weird was that Gail Brown?s mother?s best friend is my mother?s best friend," Barr revealed. Remarkably, connections existed between the Browns and Barr's family, yet no one ever made the link until Barr herself pieced it together.

The physical reunion between Barr and her daughter became a moment steeped in raw emotion and the culmination of years of separation and longing. This poignant event happened at the Westwood Marquis Hotel, while Barr, took a break from her work on "She Devil."  She and her sister, Geraldine, arrived at the hotel, only to find that Gail and Brandi were not yet back. The decision to wait over a cup of coffee would serendipitously lead them to the moment they had been awaiting.   he encounter that followed was nothing short of cinematic, with Barr and Brown instinctively running towards each other, their embrace a testament to the enduring bond that had survived the years of separation. "We embraced and wouldn?t let go of each other, hugging and crying," Barr recalled.

In 2006, Barr admitted that she had made several mistakes as a mother but spent the past years trying to make up for them. Now much older, Brown has followed in her mother's footsteps and ventured into the entertainment industry, carving out her own niche as both a production crew member and actress.  She is best recognized for her contributions to notable projects, including "Roseanne" from 1994 to 1995, "The Jackie Thomas Show" between 1992 and 1993, "The Dr. Oz Show," and "Dark Faith."  Brown's involvement in these productions showcases her diverse talents and her successful entry into the world of entertainment, much like her mom. On the other hand, Roseanne Barr has been less active on television. Still, she remains very active on Instagram in her 70s.  She previously surprised fans and the general public with a daring new style. The beloved actress and comedian revealed her latest hair transformation: a textured pixie cut, a significant departure from her previously long, gray strands.bbWith a simple yet compelling selfie captioned "Cut," Barr unveiled her new look from what seems to be her bedroom. The post quickly gained traction, drawing in a plethora of responses and praises in the comments section.  The shift to a shorter hairstyle has sparked a wave of positive feedback. Fans didn't hold back their enthusiasm, showering Barr with compliments and noting how the fresh cut appears to have given her a more youthful and vibrant look.

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General Discussion / Work

« Last post by Forgotten Mother on April 04, 2024, 11:09:25 AM »

A man came home from work and found his three children outside, still in their pajamas, playing in the mud, with empty food boxes and wrappers strewn all around the front yard. The door of his wife's car was open, as was the front door to the house and there was no sign of the dog.  Proceeding into the entry, he found an even bigger mess. A lamp had been knocked over, and the throw rug was wadded against one wall. In the front room the TV was loudly blaring a cartoon channel, and the family room was strewn with toys and various items of clothing. In the kitchen, dishes filled the sink, breakfast food was spilled on the counter, the fridge door was open wide, dog food was spilled on the floor, a broken glass lay under the table, and a small pile of sand was spread by the back door.  He quickly headed up the stairs, stepping over toys and more piles of clothes, looking for his wife. He was worried she might be ill, or that something serious had happened. He was met with a small trickle of water as it made its way out the bathroom door. As he peered inside he found wet towels, scummy soap and more toys strewn over the floor. Miles of toilet paper lay in a heap and toothpaste had been smeared over the mirror and walls.  As he rushed to the bedroom, he found his wife still curled up in the bed in her pajamas, reading a novel. She looked up at him, smiled, and asked how his day went. He looked at her bewildered and asked, ?What happened here today?'

She again smiled and answered, "You know every day when you come home from work and you ask me what in the world I do all day?"

"Yes," was his incredulous reply.

She answered, "Well, today I didn't do it."

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Adoption - Books, Theatre and Films / Dear Son / Moving On

« Last post by RDsmum on March 31, 2024, 02:13:22 PM »

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dear-Son-Moving-Philippa-Hope-Hornsey/dp/1326243519

Dear Son / Moving On
by Philippa Hope-Hornsey (Author)

My life as a daughter, sister, wife, mother and an adoption survivor. When I was 19 years old I was forced to surrender my son. It broke my heart and I became severely depressed which included self harming and being suicidal over the years. In 2004 I found my son who had been searching for me and had found my family in 1999. I had fallen out with my family in 1999 but from 2001 (we had moved) I let my parents know where my husband and I were but they chose not to tell my son. Life has been a rollercoaster but reunion hasn't made up for the lost years and the pain is always with me.

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Adoption - Books, Theatre and Films / Philomena ? review

« Last post by RDsmum on March 31, 2024, 02:07:56 PM »

https://www.theguardian.com/film/2013/oct/31/philomena-review

Philomena ? review

Judi Dench is effortlessly moving as an Irish woman seeking to learn about the fate of her baby boy and Steve Coogan, playing the journalist who helps her, has found a new direction

Philomena is something yearned for and lusted after by film-makers and journalists alike a really good story. It's a powerful and heartfelt drama, based on a real case, with a sledgehammer emotional punch and a stellar performance from Judi Dench, along with an intelligently judged supporting contribution from Steve Coogan. Yet the film's apparent simplicity and force come to us flavoured with subtle nuances and subtexts, left there by the people who brought this story to the public.

At its centre is a tough-minded, elderly Irish woman, Philomena Lee (Dench), and her battle to find out what happened to the baby boy taken away from her in the 1950s. As a teenage unmarried mother, she had been forced to put up her child for adoption, while working in one of the Irish Republic's penitential Magdalene laundries, which survived until the 1980s. These cottage industries of shame and self-hate were run by nuns and priests who had a nasty secret of their own: they discreetly accepted substantial sums of money from America's childless Catholic couples. It was a baby-farm business model that ran on cruelty and hypocrisy. Peter Mullan's 2002 film The Magdalene Sisters was a memorably fierce denunciation.

But the film is also about a former media apparatchik's personal need for a redemptive act of goodness after being mired in the shabby and inglorious world of political spin. And at a level below that, the film could also be about a comedian and actor working through his own strong feelings about what he feels to be two malign institutions: the Church and Fleet Street.

Coogan is the producer and co-writer of Philomena, and he plays Martin Sixsmith, the former BBC correspondent turned New Labour political adviser who, in 2002, was ousted from his job in an unedifying row over smear allegations and a leaked email. (The film is adapted from Sixsmith's own book.) Unhappily returning to work as a freelance journalist, he chances across the extraordinary story of Philomena, played by Dench with such effortless poise, serio-comic charm and heart-tugging potency. Sixsmith takes Philomena to America on a mission to track down her lost son.

Such a savvy operator as Sixsmith must surely have been aware of the case of Labour frontbencher Clare Short, who in 1996 was sensationally reunited with the son she had given away 31 years earlier: a well-publicised good news story for New Labour in opposition. That is not mentioned here. This movie puts party politics to one side to concentrate on what Coogan's Sixsmith is shown initially deriding as a "human interest" story: mid-market newspaper slush. Yet he takes it on and they make the oddest of couples. Martin is the high flyer who has risen in the amoral worlds of politics and the media. Philomena is the working-class woman who holds on to one clear moral fact: what the church did to her was wrong, but she doesn't want revenge, only the truth.

The story of Philomena's teenage self she is played as a young woman by Sophie Kennedy Clark is gruelling. We are used to Dickensian images of destitute old married couples in the 19th century being separated for ever at the doors of the English workhouses: for men and for women. There's similar agony and lump-in-the-throat desolation in seeing the teenage mums having their babies taken away from them. And all of it sanctified in the name of Mary Magdalene, who received from Christ a compassion that is nowhere visible now.

What Sixsmith and Philomena discover in the US is gripping. Dench shows how Philomena is scared, but has reserves of humour and courage that Sixsmith, for all his sophistication, can't match. There is a touch of Crocodile Dundee in Philomena's wide-eyed presence in the big city, of course, but it is great stuff from Dench.

Coogan's performance is more opaque. To some extent, his Sixsmith can never overtly seek redemption, since he never concedes he did anything wrong. But quite aside from this consideration, Coogan keeps everything pretty low key, even his anger, though there is one Partridgean moment as he savours the fruited bread the nuns give him for tea. Coogan is an excellent actor, but rarely has the chance to show it. With great restraint, he doesn't really give himself the opportunity here, leaving the dramatic and moral focus with Dench. Director Stephen Frears guides this arrangement with a sure hand.

Coogan has spoken publicly of his atheism and Catholic background. But what is really interesting is how his character adopts, and even embraces, the tactics of popular journalism. In pursuit of an interview, his Sixsmith literally shoves his foot in the door. But this kind of "human interest" journalism does real good: it gets at the truth and gives people closure, justifications of which the public has grown suspicious. Could it be that Coogan, the great accuser and challenger of the press, is conducting a creative thought-experiment?

Turning the journalists into the good guys?

At any rate, the result is a moving and exhilarating film, and the strange chemistry between Dench and Coogan ferments into a 120-degree proof emotional drama.

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Articles / Victims of forced adoption seek redress

« Last post by Forgotten Mother on March 29, 2024, 06:32:01 PM »

https://www.scottishlegal.com/articles/victims-of-forced-adoption-seek-redress

Victims of forced adoption seek redress
25 Mar 2024

The victims of Scotland?s forced adoption scandal are set to launch legal action against the government.  Up to 120,000 mothers and babies were separated between the 1950s and 1970s because the women were not married. Mothers and adoptees from Forced Adoption Scotland have met with lawyers over the scandal.  Former first minister Nicola Sturgeon apologised last year for the practice, which took place in mother and baby homes run by councils, religious organisations and charities.  Campaigners say, however, that they have had almost no contact with the Scottish government since then.  Solicitor advocate Patrick McGuire, of Thompsons Solicitors, said legal teams had been working with counsel to act on behalf of the mothers and children.  Mr McGuire said: ?What happened to these women and their children has to be one of the worst human rights abuses of our time. The dreadful consequences and effects of what was done to them are overwhelmingly in evidence today, despite the length of time that has passed.  At the very least we believe they have a right to justice and compensation for the life-changing abuses imposed upon them. We believe they have a right to redress.  And we are investigating the multi-generational side effects of the drugs given to these vulnerable young women with a view to taking legal action on their behalf.?

A spokesperson for the Scottish government said: ?Medicine licensing is the responsibility of the UK government and any redress scheme on Stilbestrol would ultimately be a matter for them to consider.?