“We Had to Adopt as Singles”: Power Relations and Resistance in Same-Sex Couples’ Adoption Processes in Chile

Abstract

This study investigates how the discourses of same‑sex couples and state actors shape Chile’s adoption policy. Employing a qualitative design, we conducted in‑depth individual and group interviews with six same‑sex couples and two state officials and analyzed the data using Critical Discourse Analysis. Our f indings reveal that Chile’s adoption system is governed by norms favoring heteronormative family models: statutory provisions prioritize married couples and relegate same‑sex couples to lower eligibility tiers. Although same‑sex couples are lauded for their willingness to adopt children with special needs or older children, they nonetheless encounter pervasive barriers and discrimination, exposing a governance model that—while ostensibly inclusive—perpetuates their marginalization. We demonstrate that this normative framework legitimizes a form of “precarious inclusion,” which entrenches the exclusion of dissident family profiles. Consequently, a critical review of public policies is essential: reforming order‑of‑precedence criteria and dismantling exclusionary mechanisms will advance social justice and fully recognize all family configurations.