Those born in the United States are more open to interracial dating due to acculturation to America's melting pot of standards. This goes hand in hand with the fact that humans prefer what is familiar. According to the Journal of Sex Research, several explanations have been proposed for this behavior, including geographic and social segregation, the reinforcement of a person's own identity and values, and the preference of social groups for persons of similar characteristics (Ford & Sohn). Immigrants often socialize in closely knit quarters that resound of their homeland. Gateway cities tout ethnic enclaves like Chinatown and Little Italy that act as stepping stones to the new world. Many of these centers have job placement agencies and housing services that help immigrants adapt.
Whereas adult immigrants easily find a way of life similar to that in their place of origin, 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.
[...] In a study by Kara Joyner, it was found 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.” There is a significant correlation between interethnic socialization and interethnic dating. [...]
[...] 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 interethnic relations. It would be interesting to study if schools that employed cooperative learning strategies might also encourage friendlier race relations. References Clark Ibáñez, M., & Felmlee D. (2004). Interethnic Relationships: The Role of Social Network Diversity. Journal of Marriage and Family 66 293–305 Jayson, S. (1997). New generation doesn't blink at interracial relationships. USA Today, 2,13-20. Joyner, K. (2004). [...]
[...] Female respondents in the Clark-Ibanez study reported pressure from peers and family members as a key factor in avoiding interracial relationships. Education level has the smallest influence on interethnic dating. Perhaps future surveys can include personality traits and socioeconomic status as independent variables to determine the salience of race as a commodity in the mating game. During an interview with Mia Luk, she recalls that if given the choice between rice and fries, she'd insist on eating fries because she was sick of the stereotype that Asians eat rice all the time. [...]
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