@article {Clapton:Winter 2001:0308-5759:50, author = "Clapton, Gary", title = "Birth fathers' lives after adoption", journal = "Adoption & Fostering Journal", volume = "25", year = "Winter 2001", abstract = "While considerable research has been carried out on the experiences of birth mothers in adoption, birth fathers remain a relatively neglected group. As part of an ongoing project to redress the balance, Gary Clapton explores the life course of a group of 30 birth fathers ranging in age from 35 to late 60s. Beginning with the immediate post-adoption period, he traces the men's early feelings of grief and loss, and in a minority of cases, alleged indifference, through to a spectrum of emotions spanning curiosity, concern, regret and 'connectedness'. Clapton points to similarities with the reported experiences of birth mothers, including a continuing sense of parenthood, and highlights the need to rethink notions of fatherhood. He calls for a greater focus on birth fathers in adoption, not only for their sakes but in the direct interests of the adopted person seeking knowledge of their birth family history.", pages = "50-59(10)", url = "http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/baaf/afj/2001/00000025/00000004/art00007" }