Intercultural Dating

Intercultural Dating
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Intercultural dating
Introduction
Culture is a system of same beliefs values, and it continually evolves and changing across the whole world. Intercultural dating is having a relationship with someone from a different ethnic group/culture. Religious beliefs, language, eating habits and socialization are among the characteristics. This may sometimes seem harder as the two involved parties should learn how to change and adapt to each other’s way of life. Dating across different cultures may sometimes mean having entirely different dating habits which may in turn clash when marriages are arranged. This paper discusses intercultural dating, its benefits and challenges that are faced by the couples (Keels & Harris, 2014).
Intercultural communicative issues
Intercultural dating may not be too familiar and sometimes feared by people, but it is one of the best dating types. According to studies carried out in the USA, it was observed that white men date less intercultural compared to their black mates. This kind of dating is facilitated by education as is found mostly in colleges and is brought about by the imbalance of ethnic groups. Before one dating outside of their culture, they should first study and understand intercultural dating in real depth. Though other people outside cross-cultural dating may view it as a more complex issue, the couples involved see big rewards in it. Although there are a lot of factors to be considered when trying out intercultural dating as all of them may not end up well.

Advancement in communication has also aided in intercultural dating as it is now easy for two people with different languages to communicate and understand each other well (Keels & Harris, 2014).
Intercultural dating as experienced in youth has some advantages to both the couples and the two cultures involved. According to studies made, it was observed that there are issues to be seen that are critical in dating intercultural. These emerging issues include similarities of the cultures involved, the involvement of the couples and their competence. Even though differences may stand in for initial attraction, it is better to identify the similarities that outstand the differences. Intercultural dating needs to be given enough time and attention as it involves a lot of small arising matters. Turning points are crucial in such types of dating; this includes doing little things such as favors to each other. Interplay exists between the distinguishing and similar features of intercultural relationships since both intertwine. (Martin, Bradford, Drzewiecka, & Chitgopekar, 2003).
It is assumed that people who involve in intercultural relationships have either been brought up in a culturally diverse neighborhood or have a family member that has dated cross-cultural. However, the likely hood of one dating intercultural is affected by someone’s family attitudes and social discourse. Despite the fact that cross-cultural dating if highly resisted, In spite of the high resistance of cross-cultural dating, the number of people dating across cultural lines has been increasing lately. Intercultural dating has also been influenced by the society as certain ethnic groups have been viewed as superior while others have been despised. (Martin, Bradford, Drzewiecka, & Chitgopekar, 2003).
According to studies made by Romano, it was established that intercultural couples have their way of working out power balance. These systems include;
Submission style is one technique widely applied such that one party gives in to the culture of the other party who forfeits his or her culture. However, this system is hard to use as is very hard for one to completely leave or forget their culture and adapt to another person (Shenhav, Campos, & Goldberg, 2016).
Compromise style, in this style each mate leaves part of his/her culture to fit, suit and accommodate his/her friend. This is the most accepted way of reaching a consensus as only a part of their culture is dropped.Obliteration style, here both partners try to work out their differences by seeking to leave their cultures and form a new culture that has new beliefs. It is, however, the hardest of the four systems as coming up with new principles rules and norms to govern you is not something easy.Consensus-style, this is the most desired system that is based on negotiations and agreements as none of the mates leaves their culture but may suspend them for a while. When all these methods are followed by both parties, then it is no doubt that their dating will be a success (Shenhav, Campos, & Goldberg, 2016).
The perspective of individualists concerning social dating is quite different from that of collectivists. Individualists categorize social dating as more voluntary and self motivated. They argue that similar social, economic, and cultural background facilitates mates to get more attracted to each than different cultural backgrounds. Relationships are greatly affected by social and cultural ideas as much as people make it look like the selection of dating partners excludes social discourses (Shenhav, Campos, & Goldberg, 2016).
Benefits of intercultural dating
In cross-cultural dating, both parties benefit by learning about the cultural patterns and history of their partners. Although the relational learning stems from a specific relationship, it later includes different wider contexts.
This type of dating helps the couples involved to have a vast knowledge about the world as they interact and learn new ways and characters. Intercultural Dating helps break certain stereotypes about a particular cultural group as the intermingling helps determine the exact nature and behaviors of that culture. It also helps in acquiring new skills as when both couples learn about the ways of the other cultures; they buy new things and get new life skill. For instance, they both advance their communication skills to suit their partner’s. Intercultural dating leads to interconnectedness with others and helps to build a long term contact pattern across different social networks. It also brings cultural understanding and cohesion both families start befriending one another and understand them better thus becoming friends with the entire ethnic group (Martin, Bradford, Drzewiecka, & Chitgopekar, 2003).
An increase in intercultural dating has led to a decrease in racial boundaries as the dating couples may intermarry and bring a permanent relationship between the two groups. Intercultural dating has played a significant role in reducing cultural gaps as people from different cultures have an opportunity to understand each other well. It has helped in learning new way as recipes sporting activities songs and much more from various ethnic groups. Intercultural dating has also contributed to connecting different families with different religious backgrounds hence improving spiritual understanding. Intercultural dating indirectly affects the economy of a particular group as the intermingling brings about friendship hence facilitates trading. This particular form of dating has enhanced unity among the two participating ethnic groups as it brings about friendship and understanding (Martin, Bradford, Drzewiecka, & Chitgopekar, 2003).
Challenges of intercultural dating
Though cross-cultural dating can seem to be more romantic, an in-depth look proves it to be more challenging and frustrating. As when two cultures come together there probably will be a lot of challenges and changes they will have to go through.
Dissimilarities, during the early stages of dating, a lot of different factors and issues may arise, and this puts the couples involved in panic and fear, although this ends as similarities are established. There are also negative stereotypes about a particular ethnic group that makes one partner fear associating with the then to be his/her date mate. Anxiety also occurs during early stages of this dating as both parties are always afraid of the many possible negative consequences and at times fear of previous experiences. Dating intercultural is also affected by one’s family attitude towards another culture, geographic context and social status (Martin, Bradford, Drzewiecka, & Chitgopekar, 2003).
Communication breakdown also affects dating outside one’s culture even though people may be speaking the same language. This gives the challenges for the couple to explain themselves to one another or the community in general. Individuals prefer dating people with whom the share religious beliefs and social expectations other than crossing to others since they are likely to foretell their character since they are like them. Therefore, this feeling of similarity makes them hopeful about the future which in turn promotes dating. Dating between a high social class ethnic group and a low social class group seems impossible the upper-class groups do not see the profitability of crossing boundaries. In intercultural dating, the parties should learn how to recognize adapt and live with the cultural differences of their partners. People dating across cultural lines tend to be having more disagreements and also are not only opposed but resisted by their family members (Shenhav, Campos, & Goldberg, 2016).
It may take a lot of time and effort to successfully combine two different cultures and a willing attitude from both partners. This can also produce a conflict whereby the two date mates come from incredibly diverse religious beliefs and social beliefs; for instance a strong Roman Catholic woman from Italy dating a dangerous Muslim man from Saudi Arabia. In some cultural contexts, distance is not a critical factor. Someone’s background, family, ethnic group, religious beliefs and social history is what matters more that their current position as an individual. Some ethnical groups look down on others which make it hard for intercultural dating, for instance, white males date black females in colleges as opposed to their black mates (Shenhav, Campos, & Goldberg, 2016).
Conclusion
Intercultural dating has both benefits challenges and disadvantages depending on how the couples handle it. Before one decides on dating outside his/her culture, they should have firm commitments and do serious consultations with his/her family and relatives before giving it a try. The benefits that come along with intercultural relationships are numerous, and for one to succeed they have no choice but to balance existing similarities and differences. Dating across ethnic group should be encouraged as this type of dating has brought about international cohesion and friendship among different ethnic groups. According to the above research, it is evident that dating across various ethnic lines is the best mode of dating. A dialect way of thinking will help us stop stereotyping relational differences and promote intercultural marriages.
References
Keels, M. & Harris, K. (2014). Intercultural Dating at Predominantly White Universities in the United States: The Maintenance and Crossing of Group Borders. Societies, 4(3), 363-379. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/soc4030363Martin, J., Bradford, L., Drzewiecka, J., & Chitgopekar, A. (2003). Intercultural Dating Patterns Among Young White U.S. Americans: Have They Changed in the Past 20 Years?. Howard Journal Of Communications, 14(2), 53-73. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10646170304270Shenhav, S., Campos, B., & Goldberg, W. (2016). Dating out is intercultural: Experience and perceived parent disapproval by ethnicity and immigrant generation. Journal Of Social And Personal Relationships. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0265407516640387