The Cause of the Escalating Trend of Multicultural Relationships

Enlarge ImageWith close to two million interracial marriages in the United States, it is apparent that people are not letting the differences in culture hold them back from falling in love. These proportions are on the rise and are attracting a lot of attention from social scientists, marketers and politicians. Determining the reasons for the escalating trends of multicultural relationships will help to better predict the social structure of the future.

Although multicultural couples still encounter racism and prejudice in today's modern world, things are much better than they once were. Before the legalization of interracial marriage in 1967, blacks and whites could not legally wed and mixed race children were considered abominations. Over the past forty years, the social response to the legalization of multiracial relationships has been a tenfold increase in multicultural marriages. Much of the public obviously approved of this change.

The increase in immigration has also been a significant factor in the escalating trend of multicultural relationships. Increasing rates of immigration result in growing populations of minorities within many large cities, offering a whole new spectrum to the selection process of dating. Immigration allows for a healthy racial mix to occur in many communities, resulting in a social desensitization to ethnic and cultural differences and an increased approval of mixed race relationships. Many people find the physical characteristics of different races attractive. Thus, the escalating social approval of mixed race relationships is helping to break down the social barriers that prevented many relationships from forming.

The media has promoted multicultural relationships via the power of role models. Celebrities, such as Tiger Woods and Mariah Carey (products of mixed race relationships) are popular role models that support the beauty and talent of multiracial people. Movies are also contributing to the social acceptance of multicultural relationships. "Jungle Fever" and "Guess Who?" are trendy movies that demonstrate the humorous side of interracial dating. While the films do poke fun at cultural differences, they effectively show that interracial dating is okay.

In order to maintain the successful acceptance of multicultural relationships, society should heighten its awareness of racial stereotypes and discrimination. The more aware people become of racial injustices, the less likely they will be to believe them. It is certain that multicultural relationships will continue to increase in number given that multiracial couples produce mixed race children. Due to their ethnic complexity, there is a very good chance that mixed race children will in turn marry someone of a different cultural background. Thanks to changes in society, multicultural relationships will endure. Interracial People Falling in Love
Although multicultural couples still encounter racism and prejudice in today's modern world, things are much better than they once were.
By Frank Duru

INTERRACIAL COUPLES: Multicultural Weddings - a New Kind of Celebration

Enlarge ImagePlanning a wedding is a very personal matter, and a stressful one too. Many interracial couples are encountering even more stresses when attempting to prepare a celebration that combines two cultures. There is little in the way of resources for those planning for a multicultural wedding, and thus, the current and past generations of planners can be considered pioneers of the multicultural wedding evolution. With over 1.6 million multicultural marriages in the United States, it is apparent that multicultural weddings will be the trend of the future. While many couples prefer their weddings to be culturally neutral, others are facing the multiethnic issue face on and are incorporating both cultures in a unique style of their own.

There are many cultural groups that are currently practicing multicultural wedding traditions, including Jewish-Korean, Japanese-Protestant, and Hindu-Catholic, just to name a few. These pairings are facing increasing social acceptance and as a result the popularity of having multicultural weddings is on the rise. Multicultural weddings are difficult to organize because a variety of factors, over and above the normal elements of cultural neutral weddings must be considered. Choosing the right mix of religious, ethnic and traditional parts of the ceremony is time consuming and emotional. Even the basics, i.e. location, food, and clothing can be the most strenuous problems to solve. Deeply cultural families and paying families tend to get involved and feel the most offended when portions of their traditions are omitted. Sometimes, the best decision is to compromise and create new traditions that are composed of both cultures.

Interracial couples do not necessarily have to be practicing members of their culture in order to celebrate with traditional customs. To give a wedding character and to celebrate one's family, couples will draw upon their favorite and most appropriate customs to include in the wedding. Multiethnic weddings can contain as much or as little cultural detail, giving the couple more control over the overwhelming interests of both families. Weddings consists of such a vast variety of factors from invitations, flowers and music to dress, food and the ceremony itself, that there are an infinite number of ways of adjusting and tweaking the wedding to suit everyone's desires.

Although there is no such thing as a cookie-cutter multiethnic wedding, there are still many ways of getting help with difficult planning choices. Wedding planners, caterers, friends and family are excellent resources for designing a custom multicultural wedding. Weddings are personal experiences, and the best one's are the most unique. Multicultural Weddings - a New Kind of Celebration
Planning a wedding is a very personal matter, and a stressful one too.
By Frank Duru