Are Interracial Marriages More Likely to end in Divorce? (Essay Sample)

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Are interracial marriages more likely to end in divorce?
As a means of measuring cultural cohesion, interracial marriages are a reflection of increased social congruence within society and have allowed an examination of present condition of intercultural relations. Advent of 20th century saw a decrease in ethnic division and a rise in interracial unions marking a shift in boundary between different cultural groups. Research indicates that proportion of marriages within bracket of interracial rose by 2.5% as per 1960 to 1990 census data ( Fu & Nicholas, 1096). Based on research conducted between 1980 and 1990, there was a marked increase in interracial marriage within both genders, racial and educational groups, particularly amongst the most educated groups. Recent research indicates a significant proportion, about 5%, of population of those married in the United States comprises interracial partners ( Fu & Nicholas, 1099).
However, although a statistical increase in context of interracial marriage is a positive shift towards building a multiracial community, researchers are examining likelihood of such marriages ending in divorce. There are concerns to the effect that interracial unions are much more unstable as compared to same race marriages, and likely to end in divorce ( Fu & Nicholas, 1100). A number of research studies indicate that in general, dissolution rates are higher within interracial marriages. However, there is a significance divergence as well in context of race and gender. Based on research done in 2009, a decade of marriage increases chances of dissolution of interracial marriage to 41 percent compared to about 31 percent amongst endogamous marriages ( Fu & Nicholas, 1105). Issues that drive divorce rates amongst interracial marriages relate to negative reaction from the society. Black and Caucasian marriages are an example of unions with lowest occurrence rates due to negativity commonly associated with such marriages. Research shows that Caucasians have a tendency to disapprove interracial marriages while African American are generally more accepting. Reasons include little or no opposition from family members of colored spouse ( Fu & Nicholas, 1109). Within colored families, mothers’ voices are heard and their opinion carries weight. Furthermore, few members of colored family offer opinion that matters and thus is unlikely to create significant challenges as compared to family politics within the white community. Men within colored community have freedom of choice compared to women and there are no particular rules dictating who qualifies to be a family member ( Fu & Nicholas, 1117). A number of studies in which black and white partners were interviewed indicate opposition to union by a selected few members from white partner’s family (Bratter & Rosalind, 95). However, with time, some form of reconciliation between partner and family members were initiated. Concerns voiced by white partner’s family members include issues such as disapproval by society, members of family as well as community as whole in relation to union. In addition, issues such as security of couple, and children they may have and financial instability of white spouse as a result of union (Bratter & Rosalind, 98).
Marital fulfillment has a direct relation to how couples within IR view one another. Couples having diverse ethnic and racial backgrounds view difference within marriage in the context of culture and not race. An exception arises only during courtship period and during incidences of discrimination (Bratter & Rosalind, 99). Diverse races have posed significant challenges within IR marriages. Such challenges have proven difficult to deal with over the course of history of IR marriages. Researchers have found that once spouses experience any form of societal disapproval, relationship and marriage become difficult to manage (Bratter & Rosalind, 99). Issues such as gender-based roles, relation with general family and temporal orientation are elements that contribute towards increased failure of IR marriages, since a large percentage or unions experience them. This has led to a 13 percent more likelihood of IR marriages experiencing divorce (Bratter & Rosalind, 101).
Based on research conducted by CDC, in 2002, relating to divorce rates within interracial marriages, there is a likelihood of separation and subsequent divorce compared to endogamous unions. This conclusion is based on a number of factors such as existence of a difference in terms of cultural expectations as well as assumptions and age of couples during union. These differences are deeply entrenched in each partner to an extend neither is aware of it since they are working on adjusting to known differences (Bratter & Rosalind, 103). Managing such differences is a challenge. Interracial partners who married while young have a much higher chance of undergoing a divorce compared to those who married while a little older. However, divorce is likely outcome in the event bride is younger than 18. For instance, about 48 percent of couple who united before age of 18 ended up divorcing 10 years later (Bratter & Rosalind, 106). Although, interracial unions last a little less compared to endogamous unions, a number of researches show that elements like level of education as well as age during marriage have a bigger bearing when it comes to stability as opposed to differences in race. With increased levels of education, rates of divorce subside while marriages at a younger age are likely to experience divorce later on (Bratter & Rosalind, 107).
There are other attributes such as a partner having traits that make marriage susceptible to a divorce. There are certain traits which correlate with increased probability of occurrence of a divorce. For instance, cohabitation prior to marriage increases the likelihood of couples opting for a divorce as this approach is viewed as solution to societal stigmatization (Chen & David, 65). In addition, researchers indicate that cohabiting does not bind couples to long lasting relationships, and that in such situations partners have relatively mild views in relation to family. In addition, when researchers included total length of cohabitation as factor, they found that partners who indulge in cohabitation prior to marriage showed similar patterns of disruption similar to those of non-cohabiting partners (Chen & David, 67). Research does not indicate whether such partners have a higher tendency to cohabit. However, it is likely that they would, since it is possible they would go to any length in order to establish an interracial union.
Interracial marriages are likely to end up in a divorce since a majority of partners within such marriages are likely to have been married previously. Research shows that in most interracial marriages, the husband has a 19 percent likelihood of having married before compared to about 15 percent within endogamous marriages (Chen & David, 68). Marriages of a higher order stand a higher chance of experiencing a divorce. Therefore, having previously married and divorced is an indicator that it is likely that divorces would result once again.
Childlessness is a factor that determines ease with which partners pursue divorce. Since most interracial unions do not result in child birth, having children is a factor which lessens chances of divorce. Research indicates that about 31 or less percent of couples within interracial marriages end up being childless in comparison to about 28 percent within endogamous unions (Chen & David, 69). Based on this fact, interracial marriages are likely to end up in divorce, although other factors come into play, such as age of female partner during union. Most interracial relations involve couples who are older than, fact which means either they are childless or have children who are grown-ups. Couples are thus often not held back and are always willing to separate from spouses or seek a divorce (Chen & David, 70).
Significant research has been done in relation to influence of or a lack thereof of family support for interracial marriages. Interracial marriages are likely to end in a divorce mainly due to persistent opposition to a union from family members. It is likely that there may be conflict as well within marriage due to cultural differences (Chen & David, 75). Family opposition is one cause of failure of interracial marriages. Research shows that within most interracial marriages, family members as well as friends do not lend support to a marriage such as through enhancing dissatisfaction of marriage, thereby exposing marriage elevating risk of divorce. Most marriages do not last long enough to celebrate tenth anniversary (Qian & Daniels, 25). Commonly, societal norms as well as protocols are inferior within most interracial marriages translating to inadequate support. It is common to find family members who openly offer disapproval of such unions. Such issues are common within interracial marriages in which couples have remarried. Based on research conducted recently, researchers found that divorced females and mothers had little or no ties with members of own community as well as poor interaction with parents as compared to those within first relationships (Qian & Daniels, 45). This gives support to conclusion that absence of family or community support has direct relation with high chances of divorce.
Interracial marriages also encounter significant challenges particularly when one of the spouses ascribes to a different religion. For instance marriage between a white female and an Arab man who ascribes to Islam. Race in this case comes with additional underlying challenges with a cultural perspective. Although the essence of matrimony is unification o...