Newsletter No. 2 
October 4, 2024
The 1st UMI4AA Annual Call for Papers The term “unwed mother” intersects with a range of complex themes, including minority identity, otherness, motherhood, family normativity, adoption systems and practices, mixed-race and non-mixed-race identities, orphans, child abandonment, the rights of children born outside marriage, social stigma, poverty, diaspora, Christianity, and even eugenics. However, scholarship on unwed motherhood has traditionally framed single mothers primarily as welfare recipients, inadvertently re-marginalizing them and reinforcing the stigma surrounding unwed motherhood. In response, Unwed Mothers Initiative for Archiving and Advocacy (UMI4AA) is pleased to announce the 1st Annual Call for Papers. This initiative seeks to promote scholarship that examines unwed motherhood as a historical concept and social phenomenon, exploring how “unwed motherhood” has been constructed, represented, transformed, and politicized over time. We warmly invite scholars from diverse academic disciplines to share their perspectives and insights on this critical topic.
[UMI4AA Advocacy]
The Bait of “Counseling” and the Trap of “Protection” Through President Yoon Suk-yeol’s Protected Birth Bill, shadows of a darker adoption past are stirring back to life. On even a cursory glance, South Korea’s Protected Birth Bill presents serious ethical and legal concerns. First, once a pregnant woman in crisis decides on protected birth, this choice becomes permanent after a one-week grace period, regardless of her circumstances. Even with a stable partner, pregnancy often creates overwhelming vulnerability. Western countries, recognizing this, have banned adoption consents signed under emotional distress; in the UK, for instance, an adoption agreement signed within six weeks postpartum is considered invalid. Second, the right to know one’s birth information is fundamental to human identity. Depriving individuals of their origins inflicts a profound crisis of self. Identity is as essential to survival as life itself. “Saving a life” through protected birth comes at a tremendous cost when that life is severed from its roots, leaving an incomplete existence. Third, should a biological father or family member wish to raise the child, the bill provides no clear pathway to secure their rights. [...] The government attempts to temper concerns surrounding protected birth by framing it as the last resort for pregnant women in crisis, often highlighting cases where counseling has helped women to withdraw from the protected birth and choose parenting instead. However, without comprehensive policies that support pregnancy, childbirth, and parenting for all—regardless of marital status—women in crisis are left with difficult choices. A woman in crisis is left to either be persuaded into parenthood, donning the weighty mantle of motherhood and risking the pull of poverty as she embraces the path of raising her child, or to choose protected birth and endure the lasting guilt of being labeled a mother who abandoned her child.
[UMI4AA Academic Activities] 1st UMI4AA Seminar Series - Induction & October Meeting On Sunday, September 29, 2024, we began the 1st UMI4AA Seminar Series with our induction session. Gathering for the first time, participants shared personal motivations and the unique perspectives they bring, sparking a shared curiosity for the subjects we’ll explore together. This seminar aims to move beyond traditional research, which often views “unwed mothers” primarily through the lens of welfare policy. Instead, we’ll embrace an intersectional approach, exploring themes like minority identities, family structures, otherness, religion, and the complex history of eugenics. We’ve prepared a selection of books and articles to guide our discussions. The 1st Seminar Series is planned to consist of six sessions, running through April 2025. Participation opportunities remain fully available, even for those unable to attend the induction meeting. To join the seminar series, please complete and submit the registration form below. Registration Form (Note: The seminar will be conducted entirely in Korean, and participation is intended for individuals with proficiency in Korean to ensure comprehensive engagement throughout the series.) "Welcome to the UMI4AA 1st Seminar Series Induction Session" 
 [UMI4AA Archive] - Headline: Mixed-Race Children Nationwide Set to Immigrate to the U.S.
- Subheading: Already, as many as 380 mixed-race children have been officially reported.
- Source: Kyunghyang Shinmun
- Date of Publication: August 8, 1954
- Summary:
In a meeting on August 6, convened by the U.S. Department of State on refugee assistance, a concrete plan was established to expedite and simplify the process for the immigration of mixed-race children from Korea to the United States, a program that had previously seen limited progress. According to decisions made at the meeting, which was attended by representatives of the South Korean government, the 380 mixed-race children reported in Korea will gradually be adopted by American families and immigrate to the United States. Additionally, the processing period for these cases, which previously took up to eight months, is now set to be reduced to two to three months. 
Unwed Mothers Initiative for Archiving and Advocacy (UMI4AA) (+82)-31-772-8639 umi4aa@gmail.com [Website] [Facebook] [Instagram]
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