Parenting with the Law
Parenting with the Law
In this chapter, the authors focus on the manner in which their participants’ interactions with the law reflected a legal consciousness in which the law was understood as contingent and malleable. They found that, across all legal contexts, participants often viewed the law as a game, where they could utilize resources such as income, education, or social networks to achieve desired ends. In addition, they engaged in forum shopping for favorable judges or favorable laws, which broadened their family formation options. Although participants in all contexts engaged in legal manipulation or worked around the law, the authors found that such practices were particularly important for those located in legally neutral states given the uncertainty of legal outcomes. When participants employed a “with the law” understanding, they signaled an acknowledgement of the manner in which the law is subject to human agency and, accordingly, they indicated an awareness of the role that they might play in modifying legality.
Keywords: legal consciousness, with the law, law as a game, legal manipulation, forum shopping, International adoption, social networks
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