Partnering Across Race

Relationship Satisfaction Across the Transition to Parenthood Among Interracial Couples: An Integrative Model

“…As the population of the United States becomes more racially and ethnically diverse, there is greater opportunity for the formation of interracial and/or interethnic unions (Brooks & Lynch, ). In fact, 15% of marriages in the United States were considered interethnic in 2010 (Wang, ).…”

“…This is indeed a common assumption made by family members of interracial couples (Wieling, ). According to Brooks and Lynch (), research on interracial relationships has historically been focused on the internal dysfunction and limitations of such relationships compared to monoracial relationships. In fact, partnering with a person outside one's own race or ethnicity has also been seen as a rebellious act or a solution to the desire to dissociate from one's own race (Brook & Lynch, 2019).…”

“…In fact, partnering with a person outside one's own race or ethnicity has also been seen as a rebellious act or a solution to the desire to dissociate from one's own race (Brook & Lynch, 2019). Yet other scholars have suggested that relationships formed between members of different racial groups are based on decisions related to several factors, such as a shift in a person's social status, particularly if the minority partner has already established a higher socioeconomic status (Brooks & Lynch, ). These individual and internal factors are then seen as the cause for instability in interracial unions, as compared to unions with individuals who identify as being of the same race.…”

An Introduction to the Special Section on Multiracial Families: The Challenges, Strengths, and Work that Remains

“…We believe it is also about feelings and building empathy for the experiences of others. The increase in multiracial families does not necessarily equal an equivocal growth in acceptance of mixed-race families (Brooks & Lynch, 2019). People have always found reason to resist change, and multiracial families are a symbol of a changing society.…”

“…Negative experiences that couples have in society can promote a more positive conflict management style within their relationship (MacNeil & Adamsons, 2014), and many partners in interracial relationships persist as they develop strengths essential to their relationship maintenance (Brooks & Lynch, 2019). These strategies are of great importance as couples embark on the transition to parenthood, negotiate the responsibilities of new roles and the realities of parenting, as opposed to their expectations.…”