Yu 1

Yu, Boyang (Brandon)

Professor Karen Carlisi
ESL 33B/ Project 3/ Final Draft
15 December 2015
Will Your Love Conquer Anything?
the Interracial Barriers Persisting Between Asians and Caucasians in the U.S.
In the twenty-first century, with the transportation and technologies that have been
developed, the world now has become racially mixed. The United States is a country
which is historically known as an immigrant country. One can find people from different
ethnicity groups including Black, Asian, Hispanic demographic groups in almost any part
of the U.S. territory. According to Asian Nation, Asians makes up 4.3% of the U.S.
population and with the highest growth rate (63.24 percent) among all the races (Le 1).
Interracial relationships happen when one lives in a community that have more
opportunities to meet people from outside of their race.
Interracial relationship, also know as mixed-race relationship, is the term used to
describe a romantic relationship happens between people from different ethnic or racial
group (Dawson 1). Many studies had found that Asians are the ethnic group which has
the highest rate of involvement in interracial relationships (Le 1; Qian 34; Toelle and
Harris 2; Vaquera and Kao 493). Study had showed that the most common choice (14
percent) of partner for Asians in an interracial relationship is with a Caucasian partner
(Vaquera and Kao 493). However, Interracial relationships are more likely to fail than
same-race relationships (Toelle and Harris 3) due to the persisting barriers. The there
most important barriers in interracial relationship between Asians and Caucasians are

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created by negative public opinions, and culture and religious differences; therefore,
people who are in or wish to be in an interracial relationship need to be aware these
barriers to avoid conflicts and better co-exist.
Stereotype still existed in the America society. Negative public opinions affect
interracial couples a great deal. The United Stated has a history that promote the ideas of
the separation of different races and a concept of purity of color (Interracial Marriage
1). Although laws that prohibit interracial marriage have been abolished, interracial
couples still face social barriers like stereotyping and disapproval from the society.
Stereotype is used to describe a fixed image one formed towards a group of
people. Most stereotypes are formed because of some historical event or ideas that have
been passed for generations. C. N. Le professor and director of Asian & Asian American
Studies Certificate Program at the University of Massachusetts reported on Asian-Nation
that, historically, it was very common for Asian women to be portrayed as docile,
subservient, exotic, mysterious, and/or seductive (12). Vivienne Chen, a writer at
Princeton University who focuses on sexuality and gender issues also commented that
people tends to think Asian woman are powerless, therefore, when a white man pair with
an Asian woman, people would label such men as perverse (Dawson 2). Such public
opinions not only have created a barrier for Caucasian men to pursue Asian women, but
also gave a hard time to interracial couples of Caucasian men and Asian women. James
Willeford, a Caucasian men who married a Asian women said that:
Im definitely aware of the stereotype of the White male and
Asian female, and at times Ive been self conscious of whether
people think thats whats going on between us. Occasionally

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people have made jokes about it, but fortunately for the most
part no one really raised the issue (Dawson 2)
Interracial couples like Willeford face such negative public opinions and it effect their
relationship quality. People makes fun of them, show them negative attitudes or may
even raise some problems which becomes a barrier to many interracial couples. In
addition, there are also stereotypes towards Asian men in Americans society. Asian man
is often portrayed as nerd, villains, geeks and has low sexual appealing (Le 12). This
stereotype may also cause similar problems as mentioned for Caucasian women who
want to be in a relationship with Asian men and/or the existing interracial relationships
between those two ethnicity groups.
Many people in America think Asian countries are less developed. Many people
in the U.S. still look at China as being filled with peasant in mud huts (Dawson). There
are many opinions like such one can find in the U.S. society. Many people in America
think Asians marry Caucasians to increase social status (Interracial Marriage 4). As a
result, People who has darker skin color are more likely to marry white who are less
educated then themselves (Qian 35).
Another social barrier is cause by disapproval from the society. These social
pressures from the society gives a great deal of stress to the interracial couples (Toelle
and Harris 2). There is a great deal of racist opinion in the society. Since Caucasian is
still the majority ethnicity group in the U.S., many of them have racist opinion toward
people with color. The more Asian blood you have, the more racist opinions you will
receive from the society. Like Lawrence, a researcher in university of Kansas had said:
Biracial kids who look more Caucasian have a much easier time than one who look

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more Asian, because the ones that look more Asian just get marked (1). In addition,
Watts and Hewiksen did a study on interracial marriage and provide some examples
mythical messages that some interracial couples had received from the Caucasian culture:
Interracial marriages do not work; therefore you will lose your spouse to someone
else; Those who engage in interracial relationships or marriages must have
psychological difficulties (qtd. Interracial Marriage 3). Because of such negative
attitudes that most interracial couples had received, they will feel more pressures than
others. It is sad that many people will pay action to the interracial couples, watch their
actions and except their relationship to fail (Usman 4). It is not right, but its the reality
(Usman 4). Due to those attentions, negative opinions and disapprovals interracial
couples receives from the society, they tend to have a lower level of public display than
intra-racial couples. (Voquora & Kao 494-495) It appears that less interracial couples will
hold hands or say they are in a relationship in public than intra-racial couples. (see table
3).

Source: Social Science Quarterly (Wiley-Blackwell), Jun2005, Vol. 86 Issue 2,

p484-508, 25p, 6 Charts
Chart; found on p495

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Because of the low public display the interracial couples have like such, it effects their
relationship negatively. Friend and familys opinions also effect couples a great deal.
Since some interracial couples fears about the negative public opinions towards them,
they may not tell their parents and friends about who or if they are dating. Data shows
that 71 percent of the intra-racial couples had meet the parents, but only 57 percent of
interracial couples have done so (Qian 34). Rostosky and his reach group did studies in
2000 and found that couples who dont tell that they are dating to their family and
friends; it will negatively effect their commitments to each other and the eventual length
of the relationship in time (Voquora and Kao 502).
Another important reason that interracial couples dont introduce their partner to
their families and friends is because of culture barriers. One of the most important culture
barrier is created by the traditions in some Asian culture. Many Asian parents see
marriage outside of their race or culture as a disruption of a sense of community, cultural
heritage, and identification (Toelle and Harris 3). Those parents also concern about the
future generations of the family will lose the traditions and culture values because of
interracial marriage. They also concern that their distinct group will disappear in next
few generations (Interracial Marriage 3). Men and woman in these Asian cultures face
different barriers on this issue. Because of sexism still exist in some Asian culture, some
Asian women are forced into marriage within their ethnic group by their family (Le 15).
However, Fujinos study showed that most families gave more pressures to men than
women, because men have the responsibility to carry on the family name and origin
(826). Similar barrier was also created by the Caucasian families but with a different
reason. Those Caucasian families fears about the negative public opinions that will hurt

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their reputation in the society (Qian 34). Watts and Henrikses study shows that one
example of such public opinion would be: Those who engage in interracial marriages
must hate their parents (qtd. Interracial Marriage 3).
Barriers in interracial relationships not only exist externally, the different
characteristics in both culture may clash and create conflicts as well. Foeman and
Plances research indicates that relationship between Asian and Caucasian share less
characteristics than intra-racial couples because they came from a completely different
culture background (Vaquera & Kao 489). According to Lee and Gudylusts study on
interethnic attraction, people will like each others or continue to like each others when
they feel they have the same ethnic identity, self-concept, communication style, etc.
(Vaquera & Kao 488).
In addition to the difference of habits and characteristics between the two culture
of the couple, another important internal barrier is the religion differences. As the study
by Berman and Brckner has shown, the level of development in a relationship is
influenced a great deal by religiosity (Vaquera & Kao 488). The founding fathers of
America said that America is one nation under God, which means many Caucasians in
the U.S. have influenced by Christianity. However, Christianity has no influence on
majority of countries in Asia. Pew Forums study shows that about 37% of Americans
married someone of a different faith (Toelle and Harris 1). Couples who do not share the
same religions will have more types of conflicts and they have to deal with these conflicts
frequently; which increased the chance of divorce (Toelle and Harris 2). Vaquera and
Kao had also comment that, Religiosity has an impact on the level of expression of

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affection in general. Also religion is related to more conservative values that may have a
global impact on all levels of demonstration of affection by these adolescents (288).
Therefore, Interracial couples need to be focused on their similarities and know
the barriers to better avoid conflicts. There are many barriers in interracial relationship as
mentioned. So the interracial couples or anyone who want to be in an interracial
relationship need to be ready to deal with any consequences and conflicts created by
these barriers; Check yourself before you wreck yourself (Usmen 3). To be better coexit, interracial couples need to learn to manage their ways of expressing their culture,
though the differences are viewed as positive and attractive, with mutual respect (Toelle
and Harris 4). Foeman and Nance also said that in order to overcome their difference,
interracial couples need to know each other well first (Vaquera & Kao 488-489).
In conclusion, interracial relationship barriers exist both externally and internally.
Negative public opinions will discourage the couples, effect their relationship quality, and
may cause them to slowly lose faith in each other. Differences in traditional, culture and
religion will cause conflicts frequently. People who are in an interracial relationship need
to trust, support, and believe in each other. Both cultures are unique, it not only can bring
an awareness of difference and sensitivity, but also will expand their worldview (Toelle
and Harris 3). So, interracial couples, believe in yourself, believe in each other. Your
actions will quiet the negative public opinions against you, your love will overpower any
difficulty and conflicts. Focus on the similarities and perceive the differences as
strengths, it will enrich your relationship and broaden your world view (Toelle and Harris
3). Love will Conquer Anything if you believe it.

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Work Cited
Dawson, Kelly Chung. "Changing Times: Interracial Marriages." China Daily. China
Daily USA, 28 June 2013. Web. 17 Nov. 2015.
Fujino, D. C. The rates, patterns and reasons for forming heterosexual interracial dating
relationships among Asian Americans. Journal of Social and Personal
Relationships, 14, 809-828. 1997. Retrieved January 27, 2007. Web. 18 Nov.
2015.
International Encyclopedia of Marriage and Family. "Interracial Marriage."
Encyclopedia.com. The Gale Group Inc., 2003. Web. 17 Nov. 2015.
Le, C.N. "Interracial Dating & Marriage: U.S.-Raised Asian Americans" Asian-Nation:
The Landscape of Asian America. 2015. Web. 17 Nov. 2015.
Le, C.N. " Population Statistics & Demographics" Asian-Nation: The Landscape of
Asian America. 2015. Web. 17 Nov. 2015.
Qian, Zhenchao. "Breaking the Last Taboo: Interracial Marriage in America." Race and
Ethnicity in Society. N.p.: Wadsworth, 2005. 328-35. Web. 17 Nov. 2015.
"Study: Interracial Marriages Involving Asian-Americans Still Can Leave Racial
Barriers." The University of Kansas, 15 July 2014. Web. 17 Nov. 2015.
Toelle, Stephanie C., and Victor W. Harris. "Are You Marrying Someone from a
Different Culture or Religion?" EDIS New Publications RSS. University of
Florida, 1 Aug. 2015. Web. 17 Nov. 2015.
Usman, Omar. "Thoughts and Advice on Interracial Marriages." MuslimMattersorg. 6
Apr. 2007. Web. 17 Nov. 2015.
Vaquera, Elizabeth, and Grace Kao. "Private and Public Displays of Affection Among

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Interracial and Intra-Racial Adolescent Couples." Social Science Quarterly
(Wiley-Blackwell) 86.2 (2005): 484-508. Academic Search Premier. Web. 10
Nov. 2015.