Analyzing Deviance: Interracial Relationships
Brian Kirton
SS144-01
Kaplan University
February 10, 2012
.
Analyzing Deviance: Interracial Relationships Deviance: the violation of norms, rules or expectations. (Henslin.2010).From a historical viewpoint, interracial relationships were considered highly deviant fifty years ago. In fact, when the civil rights era began in the 1950s there were still states that had antimiscegnation laws that forbid interracial marriage. For individuals of different socially constructed ethnic and racial groups, being in an interracial relationship or intermarriage was considered unpure largely by White males with the thought of keeping the White race pure. According to eNotes.com (2012), the number of mixed-race marriages rose from 300,000 in 1970 to 1.2 million in 1990. In an interracial relationship, a couple or family may feel pressures because of racial and culture differences, but if a family or couple can recognize and understand the differences they learn to understand each other. Today, although interracial relations are accepted more, it is still unacceptable by some, and many couples are subject to negative reactions by society as a whole. I feel that some of the reasons interracial relations are becoming more acceptable is because of higher immigration rates in the last thirty years, education, and mass media. Television and film has been one of the most influential ways for interracial families to overcome prejudice and stereotypes. In 1991, a film by Spike Lee, named Jungle Fever, depicted the social ramifications of being involved in such a relationship. According to “Moving Forward-Back into Reality” (n.d.) “Lee incorporates a great deal about the black community as well as about society as a whole in his depiction of Flip and Angie 's affair. Its intense harshness serves as an example of the mindsets and conditions that everyone needs to be aware of, and what everyone needs to try and change.” With education, marrying across racial
SS144-01
Kaplan University
February 10, 2012
.
Analyzing Deviance: Interracial Relationships Deviance: the violation of norms, rules or expectations. (Henslin.2010).From a historical viewpoint, interracial relationships were considered highly deviant fifty years ago. In fact, when the civil rights era began in the 1950s there were still states that had antimiscegnation laws that forbid interracial marriage. For individuals of different socially constructed ethnic and racial groups, being in an interracial relationship or intermarriage was considered unpure largely by White males with the thought of keeping the White race pure. According to eNotes.com (2012), the number of mixed-race marriages rose from 300,000 in 1970 to 1.2 million in 1990. In an interracial relationship, a couple or family may feel pressures because of racial and culture differences, but if a family or couple can recognize and understand the differences they learn to understand each other. Today, although interracial relations are accepted more, it is still unacceptable by some, and many couples are subject to negative reactions by society as a whole. I feel that some of the reasons interracial relations are becoming more acceptable is because of higher immigration rates in the last thirty years, education, and mass media. Television and film has been one of the most influential ways for interracial families to overcome prejudice and stereotypes. In 1991, a film by Spike Lee, named Jungle Fever, depicted the social ramifications of being involved in such a relationship. According to “Moving Forward-Back into Reality” (n.d.) “Lee incorporates a great deal about the black community as well as about society as a whole in his depiction of Flip and Angie 's affair. Its intense harshness serves as an example of the mindsets and conditions that everyone needs to be aware of, and what everyone needs to try and change.” With education, marrying across racial
References: Henslin, J. M. (2010). Sociology: A Down-to-Earth Approach, Core Concepts. (4th ed.). Moving Forward-Back into Reality.(n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.unc.edu/easwin/ interracialcouples.htm eNotes.com. (2012). Interracial Relationships. Retrieved from http://www.enotes.com/ interracial-relationships-article .