Interracial and Intercultural Dating and Couple Formation: How Can We Negotiate Our Differences?

In exploring dating and couple formation, we look at how it may be shaped by family of origin, how are family treats us now, prior relationships, friends and family, community, and/or social media; in this chapter, we will also explore how societal discourse has influenced interracial, intercultural, and interreligious partners and families within the dating arena. We discuss how support, or lack of it, influences the couple’s relationship, how they get to know each other, and how they negotiate their interests via multiple identity negotiations. The central theme of this chapter is to highlight the need to honor differences as avenues of connection, rather than relying on the belief that dating interracially, interculturally, and/or with interfaith aspects is like homogenous couples.