Independent Lens Season 8 Episode 18 Stolen

Stolen is an episode from the eighth season of the documentary series Independent Lens. The episode explores the controversial issue of international adoptions, focusing on the experiences of two women who were adopted from Guatemala by American families.

The first woman, Jessica, was taken from her biological mother when she was just a few weeks old and was brought to the United States, where she grew up with her adoptive family. However, she always felt a sense of disconnection and confusion about her identity, and as she got older, she became determined to find out more about her past and her birth family.

The second woman, Gladys, was also adopted as a baby by Americans, but her story is more complicated. She was placed in an orphanage by her biological mother, who was struggling to care for her and her siblings. However, Gladys' adoption was not entirely above-board, as her paperwork was falsified to make it appear that she was an abandoned child, rather than one whose mother willingly gave her up for adoption. This deception meant that Gladys was separated from her siblings, who were also adopted by American families, but with whom she could have had a strong bond.

As the episode shows, these women's experiences are not unique. In recent years, there has been growing concern about the ethical implications of international adoptions, particularly from countries like Guatemala that have high rates of poverty and social instability. Critics argue that these adoptions can be exploitative, as parents who may be able to care for their children are pressured into giving them up, and children can be separated from their families and communities without adequate consideration for their best interests.

Stolen raises difficult questions about who has the right to raise a child and what conditions need to be in place for an adoption to be truly ethical and just. The episode is a thought-provoking exploration of a complex and emotionally charged issue, and it sheds light on the experiences of those whose lives have been irrevocably altered by international adoption.