Definition: The term "adoptianist" refers to a person who takes on or adopts the identity of another, often by birth or marriage, without their consent or legal recognition. Adopted individuals are often denied access to rights, healthcare services, education, and citizenship because they have been adopted through various forms of adoption, such as foster care, adoption agencies, or biological parents. The term "adoptianist" was introduced in the 1980s by social psychologist Ruth Bader Ginsburg. She believed that "the majority of Americans are not actually adoptable," and suggested that adopting an individual without their consent is tantamount to legal kidnapping. This belief influenced the adoption reform movement, which sought to promote adoption rights for all individuals. The term "adoptianist" was often associated with the radical right, particularly among parents who had adopted or who were deeply involved in the debate over adoption policy. The term gained popularity during the 2015 U.S. Supreme Court case Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, which ruled that states could not require biological parents to consent before adopting children. In essence, the adoption of individuals without their legal recognition or consent is often seen as a violation of human dignity and rights. The term "adoptianist" has since gained a reputation as an extreme form of social discrimination against marginalized communities.

adoptianist