Adopt-A Programs - Pitiful in a Party Dress

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Poor Pitiful Pearl©

A face only an (adoptive) mother could love?
Photo courtesy of
Nancy Ashe

Those of us who were kids in the late 40s and early 50s were the first recipients of the doll known as Poor Pitiful Pearl©. With a face designed to evoke pity, Pearl arrived dressed in her "poor" outfit - a bandana on her head, a patched dress - all ready to be "adopted."

Pearl's deluxe version included a second outfit - her "rich clothes:" a frilly pink dress, hairbows, patent leather shoes - the wonderful outfit from her new adoptive parent to turn her from pitiful into... well, pitiful in a party dress.

The Message

Pearl's message? Adoption is for the pitiful. I (the adopted child) am, therefore, pitiful. Or, you, my adopted friend/cousin/brother/sister, are pitiful.

While we may look at Pearl with today's eyes - eyes that value diversity and uniqueness - and see an interesting face, the opinions of the times (40s, 50s) can be found in this classic piece of memorabilia from 1958 (quoted verbatim):

Well, I thot your taste in dolls was good when I got the first one but you are slipping, if fact you've hit bottom on this one. She isn't pretty at all and is SO SINPLE looking and that pony tail is awful altho that hair style is the very worst anyway. (Poor Pitiful Pearl)... So now in buying dolls, get PRETTY ones... Thanks for the thot anyway. She may just have to stay in the box as I DONT want HER up where I can view her as I lie in bed mornings.

Adoption and infertility author, publisher, and adoptive parent Pat Johnston writes about the confusing or alarming messages adopted kids (and others) are getting from Adopt-A-(insert the word of your choice here) programs used by marketing wizards to promote efforts to sell/save/shelter the unwanted, orphaned, unloved. Johnston goes on to say that misconceptions arising from this type of advertising are common among adoptees between the ages of 3 and 12.

Adoption as a marketing tool may have started with Poor Pitiful Pearl©, Cabbage Patch® dolls, highways, pets, and endangered species, but it has multiplied on the Web like so many rabbits.

A Serious Issue

Adopt-A schemes may not seem like a serious issue since they are so prevalent and have been around for so long. With an adult's comprehension, we may think everyone knows what they are and what they mean, but this just isn't so.

Reference material from the National Adoption Information Clearinghouse addresses Adopt-A programs incorporated into school projects:

These types of projects may lead school-age adopted children to conclude (because they are still concrete and not abstract thinkers) that all you have to do to adopt is pay some money. Adoptions of whales and redwoods must be renewed every year. Do their parents have to pay more money every year to keep them? And if their parents do not pay the money, will they be thrown out?

What kinds of Adopt-A promotions are out there on the Web? Let's take a look.

Comments

Poor Pitiful Pearl was my very favorite doll as a child. I had 3 or 4 Barbie's but they didn't compare. This doll "bonded" with me. (My mother's middle name was Pearl-and she hated that name!) Sadly, maybe that is why she gave my doll away after I went off to college. That upset me. To this day I felt hurt because that was my very favorite toy. She went to the barn w/me, under my favorite tree in the woods, in my closet playhouse and had her own stroller. As an adult I couldn't help but laugh that my mother used to tell me she got her for me to teach me to love ugly people. What a thing to say!! (especially since my nose is not alot unlike Pitiful Pearls)
Anyway, my 20y/o daughter Briana and my 22y/o daugher Jessica have such big hearts. They have heard me speak of Pitiful Pearl over the years and didn't forget. For Christmas this year (2007) they located one in California on a Monday and she arrived that Saturday. We celebrated Christmas w/a dear friend on that same day. The entire family knew what was about to happen. I had not a clue. None. They got the camera's and video camera out as I was about to open it. Bree told me I would need a box of tissues. (This scared me because I thought how sad I'd be if I didn't cry-what was this thing?). As I opened it and could see her nose thru the bubble wrap I immediately started crying, just as predicted. So did everyone else in the room I know I cried off and on for the next 30-40 minutes. She evoked sooooo many feelings in me I was overwhelmed.
I don't collect dolls and don't get mushy over inanimate objects but now that Pearl and I are back together I am truly blessed. She was a very happy part of my childhood I will never forget.
I immediately wanted to know more about her and found this site. I initially am a bit amazed that people were so ignorant in those few short years ago to consider orphans pitiful. That part is appauling to me and my heart goes out to those that this may/might have hurt.
I'm one of the very fortunate ones to have had a beautiful doll in my life by the name Poor Pitiful Pearl. She's gorgeous to me.

Posted by: sgraeter at 12/24/2007 12:44 AM

I agree with the sentiment that "adopt-a" programs minimize the importance of true adoption and can be very confusing to younger children. Unfortunately, I have yet to find good alternatives to suggest to those organizations who are trying to do good work with this model. Any suggestions?

Posted by: daveinri at 11/14/2005 09:07 AM

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