Interracial Dating: Generational Status, Gender, Sexual Orientation and Mate Selection

Those born in the United States are more open to interracial dating due to acculturation to America's melting pot of standards. School-age immigrants are thrown into a foreign system where English must be learned quickly in order to succeed.

However, language is merely the tip of the iceberg for young immigrants. They have to grapple with a new set of rules for social interaction. From gender roles to status symbols, these immigrants don a new coat in order to communicate effectively and be accepted by their peer group. In a society where first impressions mean everything, it is no surprise that interracial dating is more prevalent in second generation immigrants. C.N. Le documents this in his article that compares the dating habits of US raised Asians versus Asian immigrants.

Those born here find themselves interacting most of the time in English rather than their parents' native tongue. Language itself carries cultural standards. Take for example how there are hierarchical forms of address even amongst siblings in Chinese, Korean, and Japanese. It reflects what is important and what is deemed normal. The second generation's bicultural competence increases their likelihood of dating interracially. Their secure understanding of themselves coupled with an open mind regarding other cultures sets the tone for potential relationships. Competent interpersonal relationships among people from different cultures occur as a result of the knowledge and perceptions people have about one another, their motivations to engage in meaningful interactions, and their ability to communicate in ways that are regarded as appropriate.

Propinquity plays a major role when it comes to potential suitors. The propinquity effect is the tendency for people to form friendships or romantic relationships with those whom they encounter often. This phenomenon was identified and researched by four psychologists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology during the 1950's. Adult immigrants tend to be concentrated in manufacturing industries, but second generation Americans teem in real estate, insurance, and finance. Daily interactions differ greatly between the former and the latter. A job in manufacturing limits the scope of diversity one is exposed to. Yancey's 2000 study found that those who have attended ethnically diverse schools were significantly more likely to interdate.

Availability of suitors should be accounted for. Kara Joyner writes in her abstract on adolescent dating habits that "youth who are attracted to the same sex are more likely to date outside of their race because of generally more openness to new experiences and limited option to choose from." It is my postulation then that more males than females would be open to interracial dating due to personality (from a young age, males are encouraged to test boundaries whereas females are socialized to behave) and availability (it is generally easier for women to find receptive men as partners than vice versa).

Surveys comparing generational differences in approval of interracial relationships show that approval rates are highest now as opposed to the rigid stance taken by half of respondents born 1927 or earlier. According to a Roper Report study, 83% of adults in 2003 had no problem with interracial relationships. Results from this survey along with a study done at Loyola University show an insignificant correlation between parents' and their offspring's view of interracial relationships. Even those whose family comes from a culture that emphasizes respect for elders were found to be equally open to interracial relationships despite parents' disapproval. This isn't to say that parents' choices don't have an effect on their children's dating preferences. Marisol Clark Ibanez found that respondents' whose parents had a diverse social network were most likely to have dated outside of their race 3 or more times.

Familiarity with other cultures makes one more socially competent. A person who is accustomed to interacting with various cultures is much more likely to be comfortable and therefore approachable. Considering the higher degree of unpredictability in intercultural interactions, a person who dates interracially probably is a risk-taker and has the ability to easily adapt to new situations. This is often the case in Los Angeles, a city known for its diverse population. With many other regions such as Texas and Florida following suit, it seems as if race for today's youth is a non-issue. Racial diversity is represented more and more in the media not as a statement but as a norm.

Although contact with other races doesn't guarantee a happy union, it increases the chances that people will get to know one another on a personal level, and this is an important step in crossing color lines. Schools that emphasize representation of various cultures are doing everyone a favor not only in presenting academic opportunities but in fostering a dynamic environment. Little Rock High School in Arkansas showed us that schools can set a standard of inter-ethnic relations. It would be interesting to study if schools that employed cooperative learning strategies might also encourage friendlier race relations.

Alison Stein Wellner, "U.S. Attitudes Toward Interracial Dating Are Liberalizing" Population Reference Bureau
C. N. Le, "Interracial Dating & Marriage: U.S.-Raised Asian Americans" Asian Nation
Kara Joyner, "Social Exchange and the progression
of Sexual Relationships" Brown University
Marisol Clark-Ibanez, "Interethnic Relationships: The Role of Social Network Diversity" Ingenta Connect
Nicole R. Goforth, "Attitudes and Behaviors of College Students Towards Interracial Dating" Missouri Western University