The implications of increased interracial relationships - Research Paper Example

The implications of increased interracial relationships In America, many races co-exist together and interact leading to development and prosperity. Racist related problems have prompted scholars both blacks and whites to conglomerate and fight for the rights and freedoms of the oppressed. After the abolition of slavery, Blacks settled in America and became citizens. Scholars for instance Frederick Douglass published an article entitled "The Color Line" and W. E. B. Du Bois’ authored a book ‘The Souls of Black Folk,” which fast tracked the immediate liberation of black Americans. Conversely, interracial relations has been adopted and encouraged for a long time. Peaceful cohesion has come a long way since periods when America was divided into three regions; Industrial North, Agricultural south and Slave labor. This took efforts of religious, political, Economic and social leaders to unite and treat all ethnic communities in America fairly. This paper seeks to examine implications of interracial relations in American and factors that led to inter marriage and peaceful co-existence in society. Racial, religious, cultural and ethnic factors have contributed tremendously to intermarriages in the United States of America. Interracial relations have been improved through the formulation of policies by the State which covered all the communities irrespective of color and background for instance Civil Rights movement of 1960, immigration policies, and cultural exchange laws. These policies ensured that individuals in love are able to marry and work together in the same companies and work places. In the years before, blacks and whites had different roles and social places for instance, blacks attending low standard institutions of learning, work in the informal sector of the economy and more so, they were not able to hold any administrative position. These policies received warm welcome and they were adopted though there is little resistance for mutual acceptance especially when interracial marriages received objections (Golebiowska & Ewa 2007). Geographical and regional location determined whether interracial marriages will be successful or will fail. People from the same area have high chances of engaging in marriage than individuals who are away. In the United States, cultures differ and people from the same locality have the same traits therefore, this increases chances of interracial relationships. This not only applies exclusively to blacks and whites, whites have different cultures among their ethnic groups that can mar marriage. In the past fifty years, Northern America did not have blacks in their land while the south misused Africans for slavery. Intermarriage has tilted towards the West for instance, period 2008-2010 whereby one in every five newlyweds married outside his or her own race.14% were in south, 13% northeast and 11% Midwest (Census Bureau’s American Community Survey 2008-2010).These two hemispheres had more differences than similarities and it took scholars and community leader’s long time to solve. Northern America citizens boycotted duty and painted their faces with black ore to show solidarity with blacks in the south to illustrate their importance as the whites (Sang-Hee Lee & Baldoz 2008). Sex ratio factor has contributed immensely to interracial relationships in America. Gender ratio between white males and females was in disparity since older people were more than younger generation. This was caused by family planning strategies which restricted families to have few children. With immigration, more families were introduced into American society and increased number of youths. Blacks had large families compared to the whites. This niche accelerated interracial marriages and dating. Polygamy however caused shortage between boys and girls. Older men indulged in deviance especially after retirement and looked for younger girls who deprived younger men spouses to marry making them to approach different race and ethnic community. Cultural traits are more so, important factors that affected interracial relationships among inhabitants of United States. Every ethnic community bestows inherent cultural practices which restricts them to marry from their society. Cultural norms are sacred characteristics that uphold operations of society members together and this creates a barrier among those who insinuate to marry from another ethnic class. Blacks are strong believers of their culture and are adamant to any change. Parents played key role in ensuring that children live according to cultural expectations. Cultural erosion occurred gradually with time when older generation died and children refused to go back and chose to adopt modern society. America socialized immigrants easily by making English national language. These policies applied to all despite of color and country of origin. Ultimately, this created togetherness among all populations in the nation and created healthy relations and accrued to orderliness in society (Jameson, Elizabeth, & Armitage 1997). Love is unconditional and cannot discriminate on basis of ethnic background, class, color and status. In a multi-racial society, people intermingle daily and this aggravates adornment and chances of falling in love. Happiness in love makes individuals whole and complete and couples tussle to make this sacrifice valuable despite the costs and barriers for their progress. Truncation of love to marriage is a dream and target of everyone in the society because this is a phase of life transformation and needs to be respected and honored despite inherent differences between the parties concerned. Families encourage love and cohabitation so long as one marries from their race and someone of opposite sex because this leads to reproduction leading to continuity of family tree. Sons and daughters who defied this were disowned and neglected by their families (Root & Maria 2001). Modernity has brought with it practices that ruined traditional and cultural norms of the society. Gays and lesbians have changed perception of love and relationships. Homosexuals believes that sex between people of the same gender is pleasant than between different sexes. At first, society was adamant to adopt this but with time, it was adopted. Interracial gay and lesbian marriages are numerous in United States of America and it has been legalized under Obama administration. In some African countries, marriage between people of the same sex is illegal for instance Kenya. Denial of marriage between love birds frequently result to hate and conversion to homosexuality acts. Interracial marriages go through many adversities in the society for instance anger, fear, rejection, hate and discrimination. This is a blessing in disguise to the concerned parties because it gives them stealth and strength to pursue their goal with good or bad. Since times of slavery, interracial marriages were fixated and divisively discouraged. Demographic changes have paved way for progressive marriages due to availability of many ethnicities in the spectrum for instance Asians, Hindus, Filipinos, Native Americans, Mexicans and Mulattos. Disapproval mostly leads to migration of couples to other states where they are unknown to avoid nagging disapprovals. Some couples succumb to pressure from family members and relatives and end up breaking up. Trends in intermarriage have positively improved after legalizing interracial marriages in 1960s.Civil rights organizations championed for the removal of anti-miscegenation laws. Abolition of these laws positively changed during period 1960-1970 where interracial marriages doubled .1970-1980 period witnessed tripling of these marriages. Concisely by 1980, Asian-American marriages increased tremendously. Blacks and whites topped list of intermarriage relationships and Asian-Americans marry in large numbers and are found in almost all states in America. White-White marriages are prominent throughout the country and this provides continued existence of purely white race. These intermarriages have resulted in light-skinned members of society who deem inferior to their white counter-parts. African-Americans and Asian-American relationships have been preferred for marriage compared to Mexican-American and American Indians-Whites marriages. Off springs of African and White marriages produce phenotypic children compared to Mexicans. This is because Mexicans have intermarried with whites for a long time therefore their children cannot be distinguished with the whites (Zhenchao & Lichter 2007). Legalization of immigration spontaneously increased interracial marriages in America though this adoption was gradual. First generation of immigration registered low rates of inter marriage because of discrimination and lack of sufficient laws guaranteeing them acceptance. Second phase of migrates experienced low resistance but cultural differences created a wall between them and their counter parts. Third generation was much advantaged since their children were well conversant with English and understood European cultures and were able to interact with white peers. This created way for cultural exchanged and provided a fertile ground for relationships leading to interracial marriages (Cambria Press 2008). . Intermarriage in American can be observed by populations in different States. Various States are inhabited by diverse ethnic communities. Every State has its own laws which allowed and forbade inter race marriages. Washington, California, Hawaii, Oklahoma, Texas, and Florida have the highest proportion of intermarriages despite holding anti-miscegenation laws that declared intermarriage null and void except Washington which allows interracial relationships. Specifically, California, Texas and Florida sidelined Mongolian-American marriages. On the other hand, Texas, Florida and Oklahoma imposed severe sanctions to those who go against these laws and were jailed two years in prison. States in United States are homes for different races; California accommodates all races of the world with more than a quarter of all interracial marriages. Conversely, this state has the largest interracial population of Asian-Americans. Adding to this, American Indians who inter married with whites live in Oklahoma State of America. Black-White and Latino intermarriages inhibit Texas State (Demos &Vasilikie 1997). Institutions of learning are favorable places where students meet and make friendship. Before enactment of racial discrimination policies, whites had designated colleges where they were not allowed to intermingle with black people. In the eve of abolition of these laws, social interaction was encouraged and students were at liberty to start relationships. Brining all students in Colleges together fast tracked peaceful cohesion and relationships between different students, leading to marriages and lasting relationships. Places of higher learning are constructively important in implementation of these policies because they make next generation therefore, reducing risk of racism occurrence and abolition of white dominance and privileges. Implications of interracial relations has been immensely reviewed in the United States since 1980 for instance, fifteen percent of all marriages in unites States were between people of different races which doubles statistics of 1980.Among this, 28% were Asians, 26% Hispanics, 17% blacks, and 9% whites. In relation to this, most of the genders married outside their ethnic community for example 24% of all black male, 9% of black female, 36% of Asian females, 17% of Asian male. Whites and Hispania’s did not have high disparity in interracial marriage. Most of newlyweds were college graduates who earn income within the same bracket. Age bracket was between two-three years with men older than the bride. Academic level mattered depending on every race for example Africans and Hispania’s who married whites tend to have higher level of education compared to those who married from their ethnic community, whites who married fellow whites tend to have the same level of education, whites married by Asians had at least a degree. On the other hand, per capita income varied with intermarriage between Asian husbands and white wives earning higher income compared to white women who married black or Hispania men. Acceptance of intermarriage has improved in American society with a third of Americans admitting that at least a member of their family marriage from a different race (Census Bureau’s American Community Survey 2008-2010). Some interracial marriages end in divorce others thrive depending on individuals. Most of divorces between couples are between interracial marriages. The rate of divorce for first marriages is slightly higher for interracial couples than it is for couples that marry within their race (Centre for Health Statistics 2005).These divorces are caused by hate, stress and discrimination among family member. Most of interracial relationships are agreed upon by the couples without clear consent of the parents which become hard to live and interact with them. Income disequilibrium is a contributing factor to divorce especially when the woman earns more than the man. These women tend to be possessive and domineering rendering the man to fall out and look for a mate who is below him financially and college girls are preferred options. Moreover, some divorces occur immediately after child birth and this is employed by women who are driven by financial motives (Kara & Kao 2005). Interracial marriages occur depending on socioeconomic and political status of individuals. Education level is a determinant because individuals in the same level are likely to cohabit. Middle class and those with higher education are exposed and can understand benefits of marrying from a different race compared to those who never went beyond A-level. Children from higher echelons of society for instance Prime Minister, President and Royal family cannot marry kids from poor families. Education exposes individuals and makes them appreciate other citizens. Women prefer interracial marriage compared to men though learned white men intermarry compared to learned white women. Parents who are educated accept their children to be married to other races compared to those who are illiterate. Different theories have been formulated for the study of interracial marriages for instance structural theories, social exchange theory, racial motivation theory, and cultural theories. Structural theory argues that interracial marriages have high affinity to occur in societies where there are structures put in place to guide the youth and not discourage them on inter-marrying. Structures put in place must provide an enabling environment for interracial marriages. These structures include media, schools, and mentorship. Social exchange theory states that people intermarry to exchange genetic and social values and transfer them to the next generation for their own benefit. Interracial marriages are driven by transfer of traits, resources, values and character from one partner to the other. There are scenarios where one partner agrees to be married by another because of resources for their benefit for example a White woman is willing to marry a rich Black man compared to poor one. In contrary, Black women prefer poor white as well as poor black man therefore; social exchange is profound in white women compared to black women. Racial motivation theory states that people intermarry to counter forces which are against one race marriage. This theory states that interracial marriage is practiced to show those who oppose intermarriage that they can do it despite resistance. People from racial classes have strong sexual feelings towards each other compared to people of the same race and this calls for interracial marriage. Racial motivation theory assumes that those who intermarry do so as rebellion against norms and beliefs restricting interracial marriage. During knowing each other, couples go through these stages; maintenance, racial awareness, identity emergence and coping. Cultural theories believe that Black men are naturally violent and are attracted to bad- mannered white women. Black men are deemed possessive and always dominate their marriages and women play the second fiddle in relationships. Conversely, white women indulge in beautification most of their time. Race and Ethnicity has shaped the socioeconomic and political aspects of American society. Racial relationship in America has developed over a long time and this led to abolition of anti-miscegenation laws. Interracial marriages have merits for instance, socio-cultural exchange, genetic and trait transfer, and economic development and demerits for example hatred, discrimination, divisiveness and anger. This can be witnessed in different states in United States that have different proportions of intermarried couple for like Hawaii. Therefore, interracial marriages are significant in the development of the society and need to be upheld. Works Cited Demos, Vasilikie. "Black Family Studies in the Journal of Marriage and the Family and the Issue of Distortion: A Trend Analysis." Journal of Marriage and Family (1990): 603-612. Golebiowska, Ewa A. "The Contours and Etiology of Whites' Attitudes Toward Black-White Interracial Marriage." Journal of Black Studies (2007): 268-287. Jameson, Elizabeth, Susan Hodge Armitage. Writing the range: race, class, and culture in the women's West. New York: University of Oklahoma Press, 1997. Kara Joyner, Grace Kao. "Interracial Relationships and the Transition to Adulthood." American Sociological Review (2005): 563-581. men, Interracial marriages between Black women and white. Interracial marriages between Black women and white men. New York: Cambria Press, 2008. Root, Maria P.P. Love's revolution: interracial marriage. washington: Temple University Press, 2001. Shelley Sang-Hee Lee, Rick Baldoz. ""A Fascinating Interracial Experiment Station": Remapping the Orient-Occident Divide in Hawai'i." American Studies (2008): 87-109. Zhenchao Qian, Daniel T. Lichter. "Social Boundaries and Marital Assimilation: Interpreting Trends in Racial and Ethnic Intermarriag." American Sociological Review (2007): 68-94. Read More