Discuss the challenges of contemporary interracial couples

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Interracial couples face the same marital challenges and stresses as couples of the same race (Kenney, 2002 ). There is, however, one significant difference: Mixed-race couples must deal with how others perceive their union. According to Kenney, a key factor among interracial couples' marital happiness is the degree to which the couple receives social support for their relationship. For the marriage to be successful, Kenney contends, each couple must be aware of how their marriage may be perceived by others with regard to racial issues before they marry. Even with this in mind, by and large the research evidence supports the fact that interracial marriage is more difficult than same-race marriages every step of the way because of the limited social support-and oftentimes limited family support-these couples receive.
For example, Fu, Tora, and Kendall's (2001 ) examination of interracial marriages found strong evidence to support of the fact that racial differences have a negative affect on marital happiness. Specifically, the authors maintain that it is not the cultural differences per se that affects marital happiness. Rather, they believe the marriages appear to be affected domestically on two counts: cultural lifestyle and the spouses' expectations of marital life formed throughout childhood and adolescence. Kristen Goodman (1991 ), interfaith marriage researcher, also found that in regards to racial and ethnic differences, understanding and responding to a spouse's expectations for the marriage are key factors in overall marital happiness and satisfaction, and that similarity of culture backgrounds affects expectations for marriage. Goodman differs from Fu et al., though, in her contention that cultural differences do affect marital happiness; she maintains that marital expectations are based on socialization to marriage that takes place through childhood.