Black woman single cos the black men are in jail - would you marry outside your race?

[Banquo's Ghost]

There seems to be a general assumption that attraction is the main requisite for marriage. This may be, but is fraught with danger, in that marriage is a long term commitment and other attributes, less affected by the passage of time, are a more important consideration.

No one has touched on the issue of social pressure (although Strike did note his grandfather's preference ). In my world, which is implicitly racist, peer group expectations of marriage are very clearly set. Class used to be the absolute barrier (which made race a minor issue unlikely to be confronted) but race is most certainly now a major disqualifying attribute for all but the bravest or most eccentric. Whilst my sub-set is somewhat mediaevalist in its expectation, I think a similar attitude can be found in a number of cultural groups.

Being a bit of a traditionalist in family matters, I followed convention and expectations for my marriage, although outside my "normal" group but within my class (slightly above, in truth) and race. Recognising my own innate racism in this and other choices, I was simply not prepared to challenge existing boundaries and by so doing, inflict (a horrid word, but accurate in describing my feelings on the matter) a hereditary millstone around the necks of my descendants. Lady Ghost is rather attractive, but possesses much finer and lasting qualities that make her a perfect spouse in my world - and more important, enables her to feel happy in that world, and I in hers.

Marrying outside one's race and culture can be fraught with extra issues. These can often make the marriage strong and resilient, but only if properly recognised beforehand, I feel. As I noted, marriage is not the same as simple attraction or a dalliance based thereupon.

[Furunculus]

There seems to be a general assumption that attraction is the main requisite for marriage. This may be, but is fraught with danger, in that marriage is a long term commitment and other attributes, less affected by the passage of time, are a more important consideration.

No one has touched on the issue of social pressure (although Strike did note his grandfather's preference ). In my world, which is implicitly racist, peer group expectations of marriage are very clearly set. Class used to be the absolute barrier (which made race a minor issue unlikely to be confronted) but race is most certainly now a major disqualifying attribute for all but the bravest or most eccentric. Whilst my sub-set is somewhat mediaevalist in its expectation, I think a similar attitude can be found in a number of cultural groups.

Being a bit of a traditionalist in family matters, I followed convention and expectations for my marriage, although outside my "normal" group but within my class (slightly above, in truth) and race. Recognising my own innate racism in this and other choices, I was simply not prepared to challenge existing boundaries and by so doing, inflict (a horrid word, but accurate in describing my feelings on the matter) a hereditary millstone around the necks of my descendants. Lady Ghost is rather attractive, but possesses much finer and lasting qualities that make her a perfect spouse in my world - and more important, enables her to feel happy in that world, and I in hers.

Marrying outside one's race and culture can be fraught with extra issues. These can often make the marriage strong and resilient, but only if properly recognised beforehand, I feel. As I noted, marriage is not the same as simple attraction or a dalliance based thereupon.

the problem with the use of the word "marry" is the same problem as had with the simplicity of the first "yes" option; a simple poll does not provide enough depth to describe the totality of the question in hand.

Marry does not necessarily mean marriage, what it intends to imply is that you would be up for a greater relationship commitment than would be the case with a holiday-fling, and one that will involve your family and peer group.

Exotic does not necessarily mean you have a full blown fetish for every ethnic appearance that is extremely different from ones own, what it intends is to stand apart from the next "yes" option where there is residual bias even if it is not an overriding factor.

[Fragony]

Not the more exotic the better but there are gorgeous women to be found in any race, I wouldn't mind

[The Stranger]

ble...

[HoreTore]

I won't marry, ever.

So this question doesn't really apply to me...

EDIT: No strike that, I might get married. But only a pro-bono marriage, if someone needs residence in western europe I'm available... Just to let you know...

[InsaneApache]

I won't marry, ever.

So this question doesn't really apply to me...

Civil partnership perhaps?

[HoreTore]

Civil partnership perhaps?

Hah!

Well I know you're very fond of me IA, but I'm sorry, our relationship will never reach that level.... I don't swing that way sorry, it's nothing to do with you, I'm sure you're great fellah and everything!!

[Furunculus]

I won't marry, ever.

So this question doesn't really apply to me...

EDIT: No strike that, I might get married. But only a pro-bono marriage, if someone needs residence in western europe I'm available... Just to let you know...

please refer to:

the problem with the use of the word "marry" is the same problem as had with the simplicity of the first "yes" option; a simple poll does not provide enough depth to describe the totality of the question in hand.

Marry does not necessarily mean marriage, what it intends to imply is that you would be up for a greater relationship commitment than would be the case with a holiday-fling, and one that will involve your family and peer group.

Exotic does not necessarily mean you have a full blown fetish for every ethnic appearance that is extremely different from ones own, what it intends is to stand apart from the next "yes" option where there is residual bias even if it is not an overriding factor.

[HoreTore]

please refer to:

Another problem though; humans are so genetically similar, that trying to break us into different races is impossible, there is just one human race, the others(neanderthals) died out a long time ao. It's quite possible to divide us into different ethnicities though...

Anyway, the answer is yes. Why I should have to care about someones skin colour is beyond me, really. As long as there's no fluff on the muff... But a religious woman would be impossible.

[Husar]

[...]

Marrying outside one's race and culture can be fraught with extra issues. These can often make the marriage strong and resilient, but only if properly recognised beforehand, I feel. As I noted, marriage is not the same as simple attraction or a dalliance based thereupon.

But isn't attraction or attractiveness just the cumulation of all these factors? You indirectly said yourself that the class and the qualities of your wife made her more attractive to you than others that may have been more appealing to the eye or so.
That's not to say you don't have a point there, with the high divorce rates nowadays, one would have to think a lot of people may simply set the wrong priorities.