Shabnum Anwari
UNIV 112
Source 4
Research Question
How has the pattern of interracial marriage changed over time? What could have caused
this change or continuity?
MLA Citation
Qian, Zhenchao, and Lichter, Daniel T. "Changing Patterns of Interracial Marriage in a
Multiracial Society." Journal of Marriage and Family 73.5 (2011): 1065-084. Web.
Qualifications of Author
Zhenchao Qian is a professor of Sociology at Brown University. He conducts research at
this University on the changing patterns of marriage, cohabitation, and assortative mating
and how patterns vary by gender, race/ethnicity, nativity status, and educational
attainment. Along with all this research, he studies marital experiences and health
outcomes, racial identification among children born to interracial couples, integration
patterns of immigrants in the United States, and demographic and social changes in
China. Qian is an elected fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of
Science. Daniel T. Lichter is a professor and at Cornell University, College of Human
Ecology. He is also the director at the Cornell Population center. Lichter is the Ferris
Family professor in the Department of Policy Analysis and Management as well as a
Professor of Sociology. He teaches courses on population and public policy, poverty and
inequality, and demographic techniques.
Main Claim
This source focuses on data found through the 1980 Census and the 2008 American
Community survey. By comparing these two surveys, the recent trends on interracial
marriage can be tracked. This data shows that intermarriage with Whites increased
rapidly among Blacks. Marriage between Blacks and Whites has nearly tripled since
1980 to 2008. Intermarriage between Asians and American Indians has decreased. This
means there has been a change in the socioeconomic status over the years seen by the
declining social distance between Blacks and Whites. Marriages between Asians and
American Indians have stalled when comparing it from 1980 to 2008. U.S. and foreignborn populations have also seen an increase in marriage. An example of this can be seen
with U.S.-born Asian women whose rate of marriage to an immigrant has multiplied by
five. This can also be seen with U.S. –born Latinas whose marriage to immigrants has
doubled over the years. Looking at many studies, there is evidence of growing racial
exogamy (the custom of marrying outside of a community, clan, or tribe).
Subclaims
As the number of interracial marriages increases, race relations in America are
improving. Interracial marriages can be used as an indicator of race relations in a country.
Racial tensions have occurred among Blacks, Hispanics, Asians, and American Indians.
These groups of people have also been the out-marriage with Whites since the 1970s.
With the increase in diversity and massive immigration in America, there has been a
surge of opportunities for interracial dating, sexual intimacy, and marriage. Immigration
has grown massively from Asian and Latin American countries in turn have increased the
pool among U.S.-born minorities. “[Immigration has increased the] supply of potential
marriage partners, altered marital preferences, and perhaps slowed the upward trajectory
of interracial and interethnic marriages in America”. A majority of the information stated
in this article comes from the 2008 American Community Survey (ACS) which was the
first large-scale survey since the long form of the 1980 decennial census that includes
information on marriage order and marriage timing. With the release of this ACS, it can
be determined the comparisons between interracial marriages in 1980 and 2008. From
this ACS, it can also be determined the effect of immigration rates on interracial
marriage.
Evidence
This article focuses on interracial marriage during the 1990s and compares the marriage
patterns between Whites and ethno-racial minorities, including Blacks, Hispanics,
Asians, and American Indians. The 1980’s data provides an opportunity to explore
patterns of ethno-racial marital exogamy during a period of rapidly shifting marriage
market conditions including changing numbers of foreign and U.S. born ethno-racial
minorities, growing ethno-racial and gender disparities in educational upgrading,
expanding mixed-race populations, and increasing numbers of cohabiting couples.
Through analysis, it can be distinguished the growing marriage market opportunities and
changing marital preferences for intermarriage by applying log-linear models to crossclassify data on couple’s characteristics such as race, nativity, and education in 1980 and
2008. Theoretical explanations show expanding structural opportunities to intermarry,
changing marital preferences, and the breakdown of third-party constraints. Interracial
marriage did not increase until the 1970s when anti-miscegenation laws forbidding
people of different races from marrying were abolished nationwide in 1967 by the U.S.
Supreme Court in Loving v. Virginia (1967). After this court case, Black-White
interracially married couples increased from 51,000 in 1960 to 395,00 in 2002. This is
evidence that structural opportunities or racial attitudes are an important factor in shaping
patterns of interracial marriage.
Quotes
“[Immigration has increased the] supply of potential marriage partners, altered marital
preferences, and perhaps slowed the upward trajectory of interracial and interethnic
marriages in America”.
This quote shows just how big of an impact immigration had in America. According to
many as well as myself, immigration had a majority of good impacts on racial
integration. The more races available, the more interracial marriage. There is a direct
relationship between races available and interracial marriage rates.
“For most observers, the surge in the number of interracial marriages signals that
intergroup social distance has declined and that racial tolerance has grown”.
This quote confirms the above statement. I believe that over time, interracial marriage
will increase. This also reminds me of the lack of homosexual acceptance that is
occurring today. I believe that over time, society will become more tolerant of
homosexual marriage just like it did with interracial marriage.
“Indeed, the Pew Foundation reported that only 48% of the American public in 1987
agreed that it was okay for Whites and Blacks to date each other, but agreement increased
to 83% by 2009”.
The numbers almost multiplied in just 22 years. Could this have been from a huge
migration wave? If so, which race was the most immigration seen in and did interracial
marriage with this race increase as well?
Why this Source?
This source shows direct evidence that the increase in immigration is a reason for the
increase in interracial marriage. It provides statistics as well as excellent quotes from
professionals. The article also shows a direct correlation between interracial marriage and
racial tensions.