China’s one-child policy, enforced from 1982 until 2015, aimed to curb population growth by limiting families to one child. This policy impacted many lives, including those of abandoned children. Emma Ming Fuller, a Chinese-born woman now 24, was one such child who was adopted. Ming was adopted by American parents living in Los Angeles, California, during this policy’s tenure.
Appreciating the love she received from her adoptive family, Ming Fuller now reflects on her past. She left China before forming any memories and was raised in a predominantly white environment. She recently began exploring her identity, memory, and sense of belonging. Part of this exploration involved engaging with other Chinese adoptees online.
Being Abandoned in Central China
Ming Fuller was left outside a government building at just three months old. A passerby found her and a note with her birth date. Both were taken to the local police station. The authorities labeled her “abandoned,” and she was placed in a Mingshan orphanage for over a year until her adoption. During her time there, she shared a crib with another child and was malnourished upon adoption.
Although she has no memory of that period, Ming Fuller believes it has shaped her life. “When I began dating, I noticed some heavy attachment patterns in myself,” she shared with Newsweek. “My therapist helped me see how deeply adoption had affected me. This was tough because I had always thought adoption hadn’t impacted me because of my loving parents.” Both aspects, indeed, turned out to be true.
This realization became the foundation of her project titled “Living Adopted.” This video series candidly discusses her experience as a Chinese adoptee in the U.S. She speaks on growing up without adopting culture and how it still affects her adult life.
“I explore the day-to-day challenges connecting back to my adoption story. Sharing on social media became a way to connect with other adoptees.”
One video, posted under @emmamingfuller on Instagram, received over 25,000 likes. In it, she shares her life in a white community and her journey as an adult adoptee. “I felt adoption wasn’t part of my identity,” she explains. “I didn’t remember it, so I thought it had no impact. But I’m learning how past experiences can influence us.”
Her series addresses topics like identity, self-love, and grief, all intermingled with gratitude. These themes are common among adoptees working through their narratives.
Abandonment and Adoption in China
The one-child policy aimed to slow rapid population growth, applicable with some exceptions. It involved fines, mandatory contraception, and in extreme cases, forced sterilizations and abortions. The preference for male heirs led to a surge in abandoned girls, many placed in orphanages and later adopted globally.
Ming Fuller still grapples with unanswered questions about this past, but she is patient about finding answers. “I’ll be honest, I haven’t fully immersed myself in Chinese culture yet,” she admits. “Right now, my focus is on understanding myself and my place.” She reassures fellow adoptees to exercise patience. “Unpacking everything is like sorting through your life’s garbage. It’s challenging, but it’s worth it to understand yourself.”
She notes her motivation to comprehend her experiences is to identify what’s been holding her back and what challenges she faces. Despite the difficulty of unpacking these aspects, she finds value in doing so at her own pace.