A study was carried out on 620 university students to determine their attitudes towards interracial dating. Sixty percent of the students in the sample who were cohabiting or had lived together expressed openness to becoming involved in interracial relationships whereas 47% of those who had not lived together expressed a similar willingness.
Below is an excerpt from the study findings and discussion:
“This difference in cohabitants versus non-cohabitants over willingness to date interracially was statistically significant … Both cohabitation and dating interracially are non normative behaviors. It is not surprising that students that elect to engage in non mainstream behavior in one area express this tendency in other areas.”
Do you agree with the above analysis?
Tags: interracial dating, interracial dating sites, black women black men
Popularity: 19% [?]
Comment by rae56 on 8 September 2008:
It seems logical to me that those of us who are more willing to take a non-traditional path are also the ones who would be willing to cohabitate or enjoy dating interracially. Of course, as with most anything, there are exceptions to that.
I too, have to take exception to “us” being seen as bad boys and girls… what a horrible stereotype.
Most people I know who date interracially are good and decent people who happen to be in-tune and honest with themselves and their feelings, in addition to be being more accepting of others.
Comment by anaturalgirl on 8 September 2008:
It doesn’t surprise me that a person who would co-habitate would also be open to interracial dating. However, calling it “bad” or “non-mormative” behavior is stepping over the line. Just because a person decides to march to a different drummer doesn’t make him bad. If that is the case you could call Bill Gates non-normative for dropping out of college and starting Microsoft.
Sometimes you have to go against the mainstream and do what is in your best interest. Marriage is taking a risk, co-habitation is simply being cautious. Interracial dating is simply stacking the deck in your favor on the road to finding Mr./Mrs. Right. I lived with a man in the ’90’s whom I very much wanted to marry. I am SO glad we lived together first. We would be divorced for sure. I got an education about marriage and if I ever decide to get married I can go into it with my eyes open and without unreasonable expectations.
Let’s not call these behaviors non-normative, instead call it brave, savvy or smart!
Peace.
Comment by morninflower on 8 September 2008:
DAMN! As if i don’t have enough stereotypes to deal with! - Well ..then.. hello everyone.. my name is morninflower and I am bad girl! a very bad one at that!
Comment by Pia65 on 9 September 2008:
I think the label “bad” gives some people the freedom to explore things that can be considered on or over the edge……..
Everyones entitled to their own viewpoint, but it doesn’t mean that the final word is that you are “bad”.
It could just mean that you are trying out other options.
Comment by laugh_sailor on 10 September 2008:
This smacks of a smear campaign with goals of linking interracial dating, cohabitation and immorality, the last of which is a fuzzy and individually-defined concept at best and is, in my opinion, immoral because of the lies and deceit inherent in this. It is not a scientific conclusion, nor a scientifically valid study. One of the many ironies with this is that there are people of all faiths and beliefs who date interracially and I have seen more genuinely chivalrous behavior here than on any other dating site.
Here are problems I see with the statement:
(1) There is no citation for the number of people supposedly cohabiting or the number of people who “expressed openness to becoming involved in interracial relationships” : Either could be zero, in which case any percentage would be equally true. It could be statistically insignificant, as well.
(2) This supposed study makes an attempt to measure variables “cohabiting” and , while proving a direct causal and significant link to “interracial dating.” Even if there was a link between cohabiting and interracial dating, there is no attempt to isolate variables. In plain English, this means that any number of other things can influence “cohabiting” and “interracial dating,” as well as each other, hopelessly confusing any results: How can it be possible to pick two cats out of a bag of twenty of them and say “These are the two that ate the rat in the next room!”? The careful isolation of extraneous variables such as these is what compromises a large part of every scientifically-valid research paper. The lack of even a mention of this vital effort is quite suspicious.
(3) A completely vague reference “A study:” No supporting documentation. There is none anywhere in this statement, though it is written to seem as such.
(4) Ambiguous mixing of terms “cohabiting” “lived together”
(5) Inconsistency that would never make it through a scientific review or be written by any accredited observer: “Below is an excerpt from the study findings AND (my emphasis) discussion:” Were these comments from a heckler at a discussion or the actual findings?
(6) Personal bias masquerading as deniable scientific “ethics” in the above statement. An objective study is just that and this is highly biased. Key words: “It is not surprising” “non mainstream behavior” “tendency.”
(7) Completely unsupported assumptions based on two logical fallacies: “It is not surprising that students that elect to engage in non mainstream behavior in one area express this tendency in other areas” (A) Undefined terms “non mainstream behavior” and “tendency” (B) Link between terms is non-existent. There is no attempt to link them, other than a bald-faced assumptive statement that there is, somehow a connection.
(8) There is a fundamentally confused assumption, popular in many extreme and isolationist propaganda, that variations from the norm are equally immoral, hence the attempt to link interracial dating with cohabiting and immoral behavior.
There’s an old computer aphorism: Gigo. Garbage In, Garbage Out. Apropos, eh?
Comment by nellynelly on 10 September 2008:
I see fundamental problems with this *study*
It was conducted in one age group only and as such, it begs inaccuracies.Also, it seems one-sided and as such, biased
The *study* lacs any resemblance of sociological, educational, and scientific standpoints and basis.
My viewpoint on interracial dating/living is without ´´color´´
The foremost importance is compatibility of partners and secondary issues, as color, religion etc are solely matter of understanding, respect and tolerance.
Comment by Sakary on 11 September 2008:
Individuals are individuals. Period! (A lie > a big lie > statistics) I’m very much in agreement with laugh_sailor’s comments–it almost appears that the hypothesis dictated the result of “survey” beforehand.
Comment by SoulKitten on 11 September 2008:
In my age group co-habiting is Normative behaviour so this puzzles me…. maybe if they had linked interracial dating with one night stands could I understand the ‘bad’ link… ah well….
Comment by albanyga on 11 September 2008:
well..this is crazy so now bad boys & galz… lol ….date outside there race never been a bad girl always been miss goody 2 shoes….I guess i’m a bad girl excuse me gal now lmao
Comment by 17tigers on 14 September 2008:
I agree with Sailor. Of course I am the bad boy but my girlfriend (I met on here) is miss goody goody and I really like that about her. Good girls are so nice, and so very marryable!!!
Comment by LoveMyJeans on 22 September 2008:
So if I understand the “study” correctly, they are suggesting that if a student is open to shacking up, they are more likely to interracially date, and both are abnormal aka “bad” behaviors? This is ridiculous. How one feels about “co-habitation” could be based on religious beliefs. There are many religions that frown upon living together before marriage. However, dating interracially has no such basis in religion. In my opinion, the “study” is racist, and has no real scientific bearing. It’s target is ultra-conservative white parents(primarily Christian), and it’s purpose is to tie interracial dating to an activity they would consider immoral, making interracial dating immoral by association. Which in turns, would make it “okay” to be against interracial dating. But hey….that’s my opinion with, and I have no “study” to back me up.
Comment by www.afroromance.com on 7 October 2008:
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Comment by Dan on 9 November 2008:
HMMM… Interesting. My wife and I, wm/bf, cohabited before we got married, but after we got engaged. How bad does that make us?
Comment by TLanders on 25 January 2009:
I got me a white girlfriend. She ain’t that bad but she got fatter. Her hips and ass got wider. She also got this new job that makes her work more hours. You know what that means. I get more money and I don’t have to work a good job no more. She also got this cancer thing where got her “stuff” removed. Hopefully, she be gone soon so I can collect and get me a new ho to carry my babies.
Comment by bellara on 30 October 2009:
from a psychological perspective: bad boys and gals are not necessarily more open to interacial dating. “bad” is a “cool” way to phrase “slutty” and (or) a-lay-about. bad boys and gals are willing and open to get w/anyone who gives them the time of the day, so for them its all about the getting laid, so every other factor doesn’t really matter.
and i’m 100% sure this user => TLanders is an animal that knows how to type.