Dating Outside of One's Race: Exploring The Racial Inequalities Existent Within Interracial Dating

One would assume the popularity of interracial dating in the twenty-first century to be proof of racism and its wounds being a thing of the past. While legal segregation and other horrific events in history are no longer, some factors behind certain individuals' choices to interracially date indicate still that not all people, or all races are viewed as equal.

Socio-Economic Cultural Factors For the Majority

According to an article submitted to the American Sociological Association by Mim Northcutt of Bowling Green State University titled "Adolescent Interracial Dating: When Birds Of A Feather Don't Flock Together," [Jan. 18, 2006], research regarding racial preferences within interracial dating shows that members of some races are more open to dating interracially than others. Specifically, Caucasians are the least of all racial groups to interracially date. This is probably due to the status of white Americans. Being the majority, and on the higher end of the socio-economic ladder, dating a non-Caucasian individual could potentially mean lowering one's economic class in this country.

In his article, Northcutt explains that many Caucasians who do decide to date outside their race are those that come from a lower economic ranking than many of their same-race dating white counterparts. White interracial daters that come from affluent backgrounds might be more accepting of certain racial groups that are higher achieving in education and career such as Asian, whose average household income according to the 2005 U.S. Census Bureau surpassed that of whites.

Socio-Economic And Cultural Factors For The Minority

Being a part of a race minority means different issues surrounding the notion of interracial dating. Non-white individuals who date interracially are attacked on many fronts, one being the notion of "selling out." This pejorative term hits both socio-economic and cultural lines, for all non-whites, but more specifically among African-Americans.

Interracial dating while Black

On a national average, African Americans have the lowest household income among other races. This fact, teamed with the nation's horrific history pertaining to this particular group makes interracial dating a sensitive topic for many blacks. Black women who already come from well-off communities and/or have received an education from prestigious schools, may be targeted as "selling out," due to the lack of presence of black men in their elite circles.

According to an article posted August 6, 2007 on CNN Living online, "Could Mr. Right Be White? More Black Women Consider Dating 'Out'," many black women feel the need to date or marry a white, or non-black man with comparable status to their own after having been rejected by the few black men that are a part of these elite circles, those who choose to date white women.

According to the article, some black men once part of a lower income community, fortunate enough to ride on the train of upward mobility are also often ostracized by members of their former communities for choosing to date white women as well, who in many cases are used as "trophies" or symbols of success.

Loving You For You

In some ways, interracial dating shows how far America has come from its hateful origins. Unfortunately, it is still in and of itself, a microcosm of America's way: selective, capitalistic and discriminatory. When dating interracially, as with all forms of dating, make sure you're appreciated for who you are on the inside. Being too caught up into someone's outward appearance usually spells bad news in the end.

Aug 19, 2008 6:19 AM

Guest :

Interesting article. I wonder if some of the low-income black criticisms of more economically successful blacks dating outside their race is more a jealous reaction to their economic success than it is to their interracial dating. Because of inadequate social integration and lingering discomfort regarding conversation about race, is far easier to be focus attention on of the different-race companion than it is of the nice car, better-quality clothes or suburban house, other symbols of success that are not different from overall common acceptance.

Aug 19, 2008 7:54 AM

Pamela Lewis :

It has often been observed that race and economics are not seen as separate entities in themselves. Working with both black and Hispanic children particulary, I know that many of them view the things that are "good" in the world as "white" or associated with white people. This would include money, education, intelligence... If someone is articulate, they are speaking like their "white." If a black person has money, he's rich like "white people." I think jealousy has always been in the form of material possessions and power. I don't think there would have ever been an jealousy issues pertaining to skin color if it hadn't been for the material possessions and power that were given to people based only on their skin color in the first place. It then has become for many a word association game. "White" becomes synonymous with power and prestige for many lower income blacks. This way of thinking has been around for centuries and was created when slavery in the Americas was created. Slavery was nothing new to the world at the time, but the system of slavery in the Americas was the first of its kind to make it about the color of one's skin, as opposed to religion, tribe, or country. Slaves were only black, and they were poor, powerless, and viewed as intellectually and physically inferior. In turn, slaves saw money and power in every white face they encountered, they were usually taught by their masters that whites were superior in intellect and beauty. Unfortunately, many blacks who have yet to free themselves from the cycle of poverty still believe these lies to be true in some shape or form. They in turn either hate, envy or adore whiteness. Whether its the trophy white wife that spells out success to everyone that the black man has made it, the blue contacts that the black girl wears, or the black man or woman who calls their brother or sister a "sellout" for dating white, its all the same.