With the possible family misunderstandings and the remaining biases against interracial couples, it's hard to be in an interracial relationship without even getting into all the cultural differences surrounding social roles, diet and even hygiene. The best way to handle these differences is education, communication and honesty. Interracial relationships quite likely need more work in these important areas than other relationships, which are hard enough already.
1. Learn everything you can about your significant other's background, family, ethnic group, national origin, language, culture and society.
2. Get your partner involved with your new cultural-studies program and invite your families into the process to whatever degree is comfortable and positive. Encourage your partner to take a real, abiding interest in your culture and family traditions too. Set aside time to discuss what you both are learning, and ask each other for help.
3. Remain curious and keep trying. Learning how to navigate the bumpy waters of an intercultural, interracial relationship is always a two-person endeavor that will never really end until the relationship does. If you two can get comfortable with each other and learn to handle most of your cultural differences, there will be one less reason for the relationship to end.
4. Negotiate any areas that cause problems. If there is a food you cannot abide, make arrangements to cook for yourself the day your partner wants his special dish. If there are household habits that differ, such as not wearing shoes in the house, discuss one or two areas that might be exempt from the rule.
5. Stay patient and be particularly flexible when it comes to cultural differences that overlap into religious matters, whether they affect food preparation, the lights being turned off for Jewish Sabbath or other rituals. Remember that you are committed to finding a solution, not to making demands.
6. Ask for help from family, friends and religious leaders if you encounter seemingly unsolvable differences. There is a way to handle pretty much any situation, especially when two people are committed to finding a way to stay together and be happy. - 15784
1. Learn everything you can about your significant other's background, family, ethnic group, national origin, language, culture and society.
2. Get your partner involved with your new cultural-studies program and invite your families into the process to whatever degree is comfortable and positive. Encourage your partner to take a real, abiding interest in your culture and family traditions too. Set aside time to discuss what you both are learning, and ask each other for help.
3. Remain curious and keep trying. Learning how to navigate the bumpy waters of an intercultural, interracial relationship is always a two-person endeavor that will never really end until the relationship does. If you two can get comfortable with each other and learn to handle most of your cultural differences, there will be one less reason for the relationship to end.
4. Negotiate any areas that cause problems. If there is a food you cannot abide, make arrangements to cook for yourself the day your partner wants his special dish. If there are household habits that differ, such as not wearing shoes in the house, discuss one or two areas that might be exempt from the rule.
5. Stay patient and be particularly flexible when it comes to cultural differences that overlap into religious matters, whether they affect food preparation, the lights being turned off for Jewish Sabbath or other rituals. Remember that you are committed to finding a solution, not to making demands.
6. Ask for help from family, friends and religious leaders if you encounter seemingly unsolvable differences. There is a way to handle pretty much any situation, especially when two people are committed to finding a way to stay together and be happy. - 15784