Does (mixed-)race matter? The role of race in interracial sex, dating, and marriage |
Does (mixed-)race matter? The role of race in interracial sex, dating, and marriage
Sociology Compass
Volume 11, Issue 11 (November 2017)
DOI: 10.1111/soc4.12531
Shantel Gabrieal Buggs, Assistant Professor of Sociology
Florida State University
Though sociologists have long focused on the role of race as a dynamic in romantic and sexual relationships, there is currently limited research on the experiences of mixed-race people and the ways their racial identities may be influencing how people navigate race and/or ethnicity as part of these intimate relationships. Due to the increase in the number of Americans—in both opposite-sex and same-sex relationships—reporting partners of a different race or ethnic background between the 2000 and 2010 censuses, race, and intimacy remain at the forefront of mainstream social concerns. However, research exploring how multiracial people—a rapidly growing population—fit in these trends is underrepresented. In this review, I discuss the existing research on race, dating, and marriage, particularly the meanings attached to interracial relationships in an online era. I also assess how recent research has begun to discuss the impact of mixed-race identity on intimate relationships both online and offline.
Read or purchase the article here.
Tags: Shantel Buggs, Shantel G. Buggs, Shantel Gabrieal Buggs, Sociology Compass