Madonna’s Family

Questions about Madonna’s Family Madonna has been getting some negative publicity about her failed attempt to adopt yet another African child. That raises sociological questions - of course.

Here’s a summary of what Vanessa Feltz had to say in The Daily Express:

” If Madonna were trying to adopt a baby in the UK she wouldn’t have a hope. She is newly divorced, has been consorting with a 22-year-old and already has two children by two different fathers. Feltz wonders how on earth Madonna thought Mercy James would slot into her life. How did she imagine gluing this disparate band of little people into a united family. Did she give any thought at all to this little girl’s wellbeing? The judge has saved Mercy James from shifting staff, airport lounges, losing touch with her culture and perpetual bamboozlement. She has told Madonna what so many in the past have feared to say: “You do not have the right to ride roughshod over rules and procedures which exist to protect children. You do not have the right to buy your way into or out of any situation you choose.”

Um, OK. So three questions for you to consider.

1. How do you think a sociologist would describe Madonna’s current family?

2. It was an African court which made this decision. But what sort of factors are most important to social service departments in the UK? Check up on the Government regulations on this.

3. Of course, this is a controversial topic and you will hear all sorts of unsubstantiated rumours about what sort of people local authorities do and do not like. So, if you can’t find data which tells you exactly what sort of people do adopt and foster, how could you design some research to find out the answer to that question?