A great deal of research has been carried out on birth mothers and the intense grief and sense of loss they feel on giving up their children for adoption. Much less is known about the experiences of birth fathers. In turning his attention to this neglected group, Gary Clapton begins by surveying existing research, mainly in the USA and Australia. Based on this and his own ongoing work, charting and interpereting the experiences of some 25 men, he goes on to ask some key questions about the nature of fatherhood and how certain answers to these might have implications for current policies and practice.
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