Can 'Mixed' Marriages Work?
As society becomes culturally diverse, it is becoming common to see marriages between individuals of different racial backgrounds. How do these marriages survive and flourish?
In many countries prejudice is so great that people who become romantically involved with individuals of another race may find the pressures of family and society overwhelming. So much so that the relationship fails to survive. In many other countries, there is a general level of tolerance which results in many successful mixed relationships, although an undercurrent of bias prevents these relationships proceeding to marriage. There is a third group of countries where the level of acceptance in their society is such that marriage is very rarely, if ever, marred by prejudicial onlookers.
It is a sad fact that intolerance has become and accepted part of human nature, but individuals who have found love in one of a different race have fought the challenges for many hundreds of years. What does that mean for their marriages?
To comment from a purely secular viewpoint, it is probable that the struggle to become a couple in the first place helps them to create a strong bond that is very difficult to break by external influences, and is more durable as a result. Such a couple may well be better prepared to weather the storms of marriage.
Is a mixed marriage stronger than that of a non-mixed couple? NO. Many couples face trials which create a similar sense of isolation. This may sound a rather negative view, but with a relationship in such an environment bonds of trust and reliability between the couple tend to be harder to form, and are therefore stronger. As my father used to say, 'easy made, easy broken'. Such couples also develop a strong team spirit, and tend to feel that nothing the world can throw at them will break their bond.
To marry outside one's race, especially where there is a clear difference in traditions, indicates a strength and flexibity of character which can overcome many of the cultural differences. There is an argument that only the strong would consider entering into such a relationship, so that relationship should be stronger by definition. In addition, a genuine interest of an individual in their partner's culture and traditions will also contribute to a healthy marriage.
Whatever the individual situations, it is good to see couples break away from the previously accepted taboos and openly, or sometimes privately, stick together as one and fight the intrusions that frequently pull marriages apart. As many societies become more tolerant of other's beliefs, the development of such relationships between people of different cultures will become more accepted and more common.