Reader Question:
As an American living in Canada for more than 20 years, I feel Canadians are more open to interracial dating/marriage than Americans. You being the opposite, a Canadian living in the States, do you have the same observation? Why is this so?
-Keith (Canada)
Dr. Wendy Walsh’s Answer:
I hear what you’re saying but the research doesn’t seem to support your thesis. According to a 2010 Pew research, 8 percent of US marriages are interracial, while Statistics Canada reports that about 4 percent of Canadian marriages are interracial.
The vast majority of those marriages are with one Asian partner. The next group most likely to enter into an interracial marriage is Latino. I suspect your question may be referring to the social acceptance of black and white unions and there I can only give anecdotal evidence from personal experience. (My own children are multiracial: African-American-Irish-Canadian.)
In large western and northern American cities, the cultural acceptance of interracial dating feels about the same as Canada. In smaller communities, rural areas and in some southern states, where the legacy of historical clashes is sometimes still passed on through family systems, there seems to be less support.
But times are changing everywhere and most people today believe love can bloom between any two people.
No counseling or psychotherapy advice: The Site does not provide psychotherapy advice. The Site is intended only for use by consumers in search of general information of interest pertaining to problems people may face as individuals and in relationships and related topics. Content is not intended to replace or serve as substitute for professional consultation or service. Contained observations and opinions should not be misconstrued as specific counseling advice.
