Interracial Relationships Research Articles

“Come back home, sista!”: reactions to Black women in interracial relationships with white men

ABSTRACT Black women in interracial relationships with white men perceive experiencing varying treatment due to expectations of who Black women should date and marry. Black women (N = 23) from across the United States describe their experiences dating and/or marrying white men. Interviewees explicitly and repeatedly express believing that they face social sanctions for being with white men. Judgment from Black men leads many Black women to feel shame, frustration, and that race x gender power differentials are at play in these responses. Judgment from white women leads Black women to believe the validity of their relationships is discredited. Black Feminist Thought and systemic racism reveal why Black women believe they face judgement for dating and/or marrying white men. Studying the perceived reactions to individuals with a double minority status (Black women) and a double majority status (white men) offers insight into the way social status can impact romantic relationships.

Interracial Couples at Risk: Discrimination, Well-Being, and Health

As the number of interracial couples in the U.S. continues to grow, it is important to examine stressors that may lead to decreased well-being and self-rated health due to stigma. Using AddHealth, we conducted ordinary least squares (OLS) regressions to test if individuals in Black/White interracial couples experience (1) higher stress and discriminatory experiences, (2) worse depression and self-rated health, and (3) if depression and self-rated health vary as a function of perceived stress and experiences of discrimination. Biological sex differences were assessed as well. Compared to White couples, interracial couples were, on average, more likely to experience discrimination, and higher perceived stress, more depressive symptoms, and worse overall self-rated health. Our findings suggest a potential mechanism underlying these associations might be through increased stress and discrimination. Future research should further assess additional stressors to understand if interracial couples experience worse health outcomes due to being in a stigmatized relationship.

"Now as a 50 year old woman, I know who I am": Older Black Women Reflecting on Dating and Marrying White Men

How do older Black women interpret their past and present intimate relationships with white men? In 26 interviews, Black women ranging from 40 to late 70 years old describe their experiences dating and/or marrying white men. Interviewees consider the societal context in which they engage in these relationships, noting differences in intimate interactions with white men in their youth versus their current age. When recollecting their experiences as younger women, interviewees reflect on messages about white men they were taught by older generations, body politics, and engaging with white men in the face of the historical subjugation of white men over Black women. When explaining their contemporary relationships, Black women state white men tend to be persistent, devoted, and accept them as they are. Our results are indicative of the importance of time and generation in interracial relationships that Black women engage in. We apply Black Feminist Thought to elucidate Black women's dynamics in these types of interracial relationships. These findings may be applied more broadly to the study of interracial relationships, and to intimate relationships in general, as we highlight how societal-level events and expectations have the power to impact interpersonal relationships.

Gendered Racial Socialization and Interracial Dating Attitudes Among Black Women

The current study examines the association between gendered racial socialization messages received by Black women and their attitudes towards Black interracial relationships. Hierarchal linear regression was used to examine participant's (N = 269) exposure to messages regarding 1) racial gender pride and empowerment, 2) internalized gender racial oppression, and 3) family responsibilities and attitudes towards Black interracial relationships. Results indicated greater messages regarding gender racial pride and empowerment were associated with more positive attitudes toward interracial dating. Conversely, greater internalized gendered racial oppression and family responsibilities and expectations were associated with less favorable attitudes toward Black interracial relationships broadly. However, greater internalized gendered racial oppression and family responsibilities and expectations did not influence one's own willingness to date someone of a different race. These results have implications for future research directions related to Black women's gendered racial socialization using the Black Feminist Thought framework.

Komunikasi Pernikahan Beda Budaya (Studi Komunikasi Antarpribadi Pasangan Arab Alawiyyin dan Non-Alawiyyin di Kampung Arab Solo, Jawa Tengah)

This study aims to find out how the processes, communication barriers, and adaptations carried out by different cultural couples between Arab Alawiyyin and Non-Arab Alawiyyin in their married life. Communication is the main key in a marriage. Especially in a marriage between two people with different cultural backgrounds, interpersonal communication is important to achieve harmony in a family. This research is a phenomenological study that aims to determine the subjective experience of interpersonal communication between Alawiyyin and non-Alawiyyin Arab marriage couples. The results showed that interpersonal communication between Alawiyyin and non-Alawiyyin Arab couples took place harmoniously because of adjustments made before and during the marriage period. Commitments and agreements are made and negotiated with effective communication between the two. Communication barriers in general can be overcome well, even though at the beginning of marriage it was the toughest moment for couples to adjust. Differences in culture, customs, norms and values between partners are other factors that hinder communication. Openness, empathy, mindfulness, cultural sensitivity, and other effective interpersonal communication skills are keys to success in intercultural marriage relationships. In addition, the extended family and its values are the main factors that must be compromised, especially in the early moments of marriage.

Victorian Women Writers and the Other Germany: Cross-Cultural Freedoms and Female Opportunity

Victorian Women Writers and the Other Germany: Cross-Cultural Freedoms and Female Opportunity

Koloniale Fremdheitserfahrung und bikulturelle Eheschliessungen: zur kolonialen Ambivalenz bei Jesco Von Puttkamer und Pierre Loti

"Colonial Experience of Strangeness and Bicultural Marriages: On Colonial Ambivalence in Jesco von Puttkamer and Pierre Loti. The following article goes into the literary analysis of colonial strangeness and bicultural marriages through two colonial texts. Jesco von Puttkamer and Pierre Loti exemplify the subject of colonial strangeness from a travel experience. In their texts, colonial experience of foreignness focuses on excerpt of the colonists from their familiar surroundings with travel. The journey in the sign of colonization goes hand in hand with the perception of the foreign space and its inhabitants. Puttkamer's and Loti's main characters do not however abide by the colonial rule of radical distancing from the natives because they have romantic relationships with black women. In both cases, it is an ambivalent attitude of the colonial masters towards the non-European foreign region, which oscillates between positive and negative stereotypes. The depictions of mixed marriages are also characterized by ambivalence, because the black woman acts both as an object of fascination or desire and as a subject of racial power differences. These statements justify the thesis of colonial ambivalence, which is the subject of discussion here. The authors thus confirm the following results, which the article concludes with; namely, that the line between exotic strangeness and colonial stereotyping is difficult to draw. The analyzed narrative sequences also provide information that colonial intermarriage leads to mutual transformations. As an exchange of bodies, colonial marriages illustrate the interweaving of the colonial periphery and the European metropolis. To achieve the above goals, Whiteness and (post)colonial Studies provide theoretical foundations that make my investigation more plausible. Keywords: colonial travel, foreignness, ambivalence, intercultural marriages, reciprocity "

Cross-Cultural Marriage and Family Life in Susan Muaddi Darraj’s The Inheritance of Exile: Stories From South Philly

This paper aims at examining the personal factors that affect and are affected by the cross-cultural marriage in The Inheritance of Exile: Stories from South Philly. The intercultural marriage of Hanan; an Arab, and John; an American, affects the entire unit of children, members of family and social networks. Cultural differences between the couple make their parents reject the interracial marriage and this leads to struggle and instability in the couple’s marital life. The study highlights the sociological, economic and cultural contexts that affect this interracial marriage.

Review of “The Colors of Love: Multiracial People in Interracial Relationships”

Review of “The Colors of Love: Multiracial People in Interracial Relationships”

Learning While Black: A Qualitative Analysis of the Impact of Race in a U.S. High School

One of the major contributing factors to the Black-White achievement gap is school context. While many factors can affect academic achievement amongst Black youth, school climate and inter-racial relations are among the root causes which impact Black students’ development. In this qualitative study, we conducted secondary analysis of existing data consisting of interview transcripts and focus group discussions held in 2013 with 21 Black students who attended a public charter high school in Michigan. Open access data were downloaded from the University of Michigan Inter-University Consortium for Political and Social Research (ICPSR) database. We analyzed qualitative data for themes and constructs related to school context and such influences on Black youth development. The following three constructs were identified: racial identity of Black youth, the impact of teachers on Black students’ racial identity and development, and lastly, exploring the dominant culture of the U.S. education system. For researchers, this data highlights a need for more studies on the intersection of race, school environment, and youth development. For administrators and policy makers, the results emphasize the need for investment and engagement in the daily experiences of Black students, reducing racism, and increasing diversity of curriculum. Teachers and school administrators may benefit from specialized training to better address cultural, educational, and developmental needs of Black youth in the context of their role in school.

Medical Family Therapy with Diverse Populations Part I: interracial Couples Navigating Infertility, Racialized Pregnancy, and Pregnancy Loss

ABSTRACT Medical Family Therapy (MedFT) is a much-needed and growing specialization in the United States and internationally, bringing attention to the relationship between acute and chronic illness and their reciprocal impact on couple and family systems. Despite the growth of MedFT and the growing body of research affirming its effectiveness in general, there remains a need for greater research demonstrating its effectiveness with specific medical conditions, such as pregnancy-related issues, namely infertility, racialized pregnancy, and pregnancy loss. Much of the research related to these losses leaves out at least two important populations impacted by these events – interracial couples and men. In this paper, we discuss the experiences of interracial couples, generally, and men, specifically, to: (1) draw attention to unique struggles faced by interracial couples, with special attention to cisgender male (cis male) partners’ experiences, (2) describe how MedFTs utilizing a systemic, relational, BPSS focus, are well-positioned to effectively work with interracial couples experiencing infertility, racialized pregnancy, and pregnancy loss, and (3) include a case example to illustrate how a MedFT might approach working with an interracial couple experiencing these struggles. Finally, we conclude by providing clinical recommendations and practical future directions for research in the areas of infertility, racialized pregnancy, and pregnancy loss, and discuss future MedFT training needs.

Discrimination is not just Black and White in romantic relationships: A consideration of perspective taking and self-expansion.

Interracial relationships can satisfy our human need for interpersonal bonds, but face adversity due to racial discrimination. This adversity is not parallel for the involved partners, however, in ways that have implications for relationship outcomes. As such, in the current research, we considered that discrimination may provide an avenue for positive self-expansion for a White partner, insofar as they use it to learn more about their partner's worldview and experience. This is important, as facing racial discrimination could be a reason White partners think about ending their relationship. Thus, identifying processes that mitigate adversity for the White partner could bolster relationship outcomes for both partners and enhance persistence in interracial relationships. Specifically, we tested whether White partners engaging in perspective taking could buffer against the negativity of discrimination. In Study 1 (N = 260), we found that perspective taking was associated with feeling the relationship expanded one's worldview for White partners in interracial relationships (but not for Black or non-White Hispanic partners). In Studies 2-4 (N = 531), we found that partners who engaged in perspective taking when discrimination was salient experienced greater positive self-expansion, which in turn led to greater reports of relationship quality. Collectively, these results suggest that perspective taking provides one process by which interracial relationships can be fortified against the adversity of racial discrimination. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

Camelia Kokkinidis: journey from JIA to motherhood.

“Since giving birth I haven't had one flare up. If anything, I feel more alive than ever and I never imagined this would happen”, says Camelia Kokkinidis, who was diagnosed with juvenile idiopathic arthritis at age 9 years. Born to a Black mother and White father in South Africa, Camelia's early years were spent in the small southern African kingdom formally known as Swaziland, where her family moved to escape the stigma surrounding their inter-racial relationship in the early post-apartheid years.

Race, Politics, and Nation in Albion W. Tourgée's American Historical Novels Series: The Example of Hot Plowshares

Race, Politics, and Nation in Albion W. Tourgée's American Historical Novels Series: The Example of <i>Hot Plowshares</i>

Experiences of White partners in Black–White romantic relationships in the United States: A qualitative study

AbstractObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to provide new information on the lived experiences of White individuals in Black–White interracial relationships, including the impact of the social climate on these relationships.BackgroundWhile attitudes toward Black–White relationships have improved more than in previous decades, they still occur less frequently, are the least accepted, and are regarded more negatively when compared with all other interracial pairings. This warrants more research on the issues concerning interracial couples.MethodParticipants (n = 7) included five women and two men who self‐identified as White that were in, or formerly in, a Black–White romantic relationship of at least three months. Participants completed a semi‐structured interview with the researcher. Qualitative content analysis was used due to the exploratory nature of the research questions.ResultsParticipants reported external stressors (i.e., discriminatory, or racist encounters in public) and lack of familial acceptance of their relationship throughout their relationship. In addition, the social and political climate seemed to impact discussions about race within the couple.ConclusionIndividuals in Black–White romantic relationships experience challenges within their private and public lives due to race.ImplicationsThis research study demonstrates a way in which researchers should aim to look at individuals, couples, and families as different units of analysis situated in a particular socio‐cultural context. Future studies can also explore the ways in which White partners can support their Black partner.

Medical Family Therapy with Diverse Populations Part II: Understanding & Treating Interracial & International Couples with Chronic Illness Using Emotionally Focused MedFT

ABSTRACT Background: Globalization has resulted in the increase of interracial and interracial-international couple relationships around the world, some of whom also live with chronic illness. Despite growing positive attitudes toward interracial relationships, these couples experience multiple health disparities and disparate treatments compared to same-race couples. Aims: In this paper, we illuminate the general experience of interracial couples around the world to: (1) draw special attention to how sociocultural discourses influence them individually and as a couple; (2) highlight the disparities in equitable health care received by interracial couples; and (3) discuss how Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) is a useful framework for working with interracial couples with chronic illness and how it can be a larger training area in medical family therapy (MedFT) and its application to chronic health issues faced by couples. Method: We include a case example integrating EFT and the BPSS model to address the cross-cultural experiences and treatment needs of interracial couples struggling with a chronic illness experience. Discussion: Clinical recommendations include the necessity of multipartiality and self-of-the-therapist examinations alongside sociocultural assessment and culturally atuned treatment of interracial couples with chronic illness. Future directions include advocating for the expansion of EFT training in MedFT and chronic illness treatment.

A scoping review of the physical health and psychological well‐being of individuals in interracial romantic relationships

AbstractObjectiveA scoping review was conducted to document the literature of the impacts of being in a romantic partnership and better physical health and psychological well‐being for individuals who are in an interracial romantic relationship.BackgroundIn the 50 years since Loving v. Virginia (1967) overturned the ban on interracial romantic relationships, the rates of interracial marriages have quintupled. Although being in a romantic relationship has been associated with better physical health and psychological well‐being outcomes, the population of individuals in interracial romantic relationships has been overlooked.MethodInformed by Arksey and O'Malley (2005), the study's objectives, inclusion criteria, and methods of analysis for this review were specified in advance and documented. Fourteen studies met the scoping review's inclusion criteria.ResultsThe articles were similar in five key areas: use of theory, methods, physical health outcomes, psychological well‐being outcomes, and intimate partner violence. The findings across the studies suggest that individuals in interracial romantic relationships experience poorer physical health and psychological well‐being compared with individuals who partner within their own race.ConclusionThe theorized benefits of being in a romantic relationship do not seem to apply equally across individuals, particularly among those in interracial romantic relationships.ImplicationsProviding support for interracial relationships is critical because the rates of these relationships are expected to increase, and individuals in these relationships are faring worse, despite being more than 50 years removed from anti‐miscegenation laws.

When skinfolk are kinfolk: Higher perceived support and acceptance characterize close same‐race (vs. interracial) relationships for people of color

AbstractPeople of color cope with racial stigma daily. In this context, support and acceptance from people who share similar racial/ethnic backgrounds can take a special importance. In two studies, using a national U.S. sample (n = 1618) and a term‐long weekly‐diary design (n = 103), Black, Latine, and Asian students received more support and acceptance from close same‐race (vs. interracial) relationships. Compared to White participants, Black and Latine participants reported greater support and acceptance from their relationships. Furthermore, greater support and acceptance in same‐race relationships predicted greater flourishing and lower depressive affect, even after controlling for support and acceptance in interracial relationships. These results underscore the importance of same‐race relationships for people of color in the U.S. In conjunction with practices addressing structural barriers, opportunities to connect with same‐race peers can nurture the flourishment of people of color in the U.S. and possibly other contexts in which they are stigmatized.

Interracial unions and sleep duration among heterosexual American adults

For Americans in romantic unions, sleep occurs in the context of couple relationships. Romantic partners influence one another's circadian rhythms, share beds, buffer or cause stress, and share resources that can be used to improve sleep. Moreover, sleep among individuals in interracial relationships may be negatively impacted by the social construction of race/ethnicity that drive health disparities and that point to the importance of factors such as racism, stress and social adversity that represent the unique lived reality of interracial couples in the U.S. Using non-dyadic data from the 2004–2018 National Health Interview Survey (n = 243,552) we fit a series of multinomial regression models predicting self-reported sleep duration of six or fewer (short), seven to eight (normal), and nine or more (long) hours. After adjusting for demographics, household socioeconomic characteristics, and health characteristics/behaviors, we find that individuals in interracial unions report significantly higher odds of short sleep compared to normal sleep. Race/ethnic stratified models indicated that all respondents in interracial relationships had higher odds of reporting short sleep, but that the association was particularly pronounced among non-Hispanic White adults and Hispanic adults. Generally, we find few differences in these associations between men and women or between those in marital versus those in cohabiting relationships. Future research should continue to investigate how social inequality conditions sleep for Americans in romantic relationships.

Temporal Association Between Interracial Couples and Odds of Low Birth Weight Infants: Trends in National Vital Statistics Data from 1971 to 2016.

Our study explores the temporal association between low birth weight (LBW) infants and the increasing population prevalence of interracial relationships. Our hypothesis was that the odds of LBW would decrease as the population prevalence of interracial relationships increased. National Center for Health Statistics Natality data for 1971-2016 was analyzed. LBW was defined as birth weight less than 2500gm. We restricted our analyses to singleton births by White and Black mothers with reported White or Black partners of the neonate. Logistic regression was used to calculate the odds ratios of LBW, both unadjusted and adjusted for maternal education and parental ages. The proportion of couples coded as interracial increased annually from 0.36% in 1971 to 3.86% in 2016 for White mothers and 0.59% to 8.63% for Black mothers during the same period. In each year the odds ratio of LBW was significant. As the proportion of White mothers with Black partners increased, their odds of LBW declined (OR1.75 to 1.30, p &lt; 0.001). The odds ratio of LBW among Black mothers with White partners did not change and remained stable between 0.70 and 0.80 (p = 0.22) over the same time period. As the annual proportion of White mothers with Black partners increased, their odds of LBW decreased when compared to White couples. Black mothers with White partners did not exhibit a similar change when compared to Black couples, with the odds ratio of LBW remaining stable.