icon backReturn to Entries

Interracial Relationships

The term interracial refers to couples in which one partner is of a different race than the other. Interracial couples have long captured the attention of social scientists who believe these relationships offer insights into broader race relations. Most research on this topic focuses upon heterosexual couples, but a growing number of studies examine same-sex interracial intimacy, especially between Blacks and Whites. This entry explores the patterns, history, and contemporary challenges of same-sex interracial relationships.

Patterns

National data on same-sex relationships has only recently become available. Beginning in 2000, the United States Census began collecting data on “unmarried partner households,” including lesbian couple households, gay male couple households, and heterosexual unmarried couple households. Ten years later, the U.S. Census allowed same-sex partners to identify as “spouses.” In ...

  • Loading...
locked icon

Sign in to access this content

Get a 30 day FREE TRIAL

  • Watch videos from a variety of sources bringing classroom topics to life
  • Read modern, diverse business cases
  • Explore hundreds of books and reference titles