Stigma and Relationship Quality: The Relevance of Racial-Ethnic Worldview in Interracial Relationships in the United States

Abstract

The current study explored the associations between relationship stigma, Racial-ethnic Worldview (REW; a construct developed as a comprehensive assessment of individual's perceptions of race and ethnicity), and relationship quality among those in interracial relationships (i. e., participants indicated their race was different than the race of their partner). One type of REW (Color-blind Achieved) was especially susceptible to the negative consequences of stigma from family members. Other significant differences in relationship quality and relationship stigma were found based on REW. Most notable is that individuals who acknowledge institutional racism, have positive intergroup attitudes, and a positive ethnic identity reported better relationship quality than those who denied institutional racism and/or had less positive attitudes toward their own ethnic group. These results demonstrate the utility of REW in contextualizing the experiences of individuals in interracial relationships as it relates to perceived stigma and relationship quality. The study offers a critical account of how individuals understanding of the racial and ethnic social context shapes relationship outcomes for those in interracial relationships in the United States.

Maybe, maybe not: Racial discourse and worldview in interracial relationships.

“…Finally, explicitly addressing partners’ understanding of racism can allow for an externalization of it as an institutional phenomenon. By acknowledging institutional racism, partners can forego the associated detriment in relationship quality (Brooks & Morrison, 2021) and engage in critical discussions about how racism affects the family system. As indicated here, interracial relationship partners do discuss individual experiences of discrimination and the topic of police brutality, a sort of color-blind approach, which dismisses experiences of racism, could invite the harming effects of victim blaming into the relationship and add stressors on the relationships from within (Mekawi & Todd, 2018).…”

Raising “Antiracist Disruptors”: Illuminating Socialization Practices that Support Antiracism in Multiracial Households

“…Indeed, the mere existence of multiracial families itself challenges racist ideologies that have historically manifested through anti-miscegenation laws and hypodescent (Ho et al, 2011;Lee & Bean, 2012;Rockquemore & Brunsma, 2002, 2007Root, 1990Root, , 1996. However, being in an interracial relationship or heading a multiracial household does not necessarily disrupt the socialization of racist ideas and orientations (Brooks & Morrison, 2022;Gruenes, 2018;Pryor, 2018), as there are important individual differences in parents' own understandings of the legacy of these racist laws and policies as well as their understanding of racism as a systemic issue, more generally.…”