LONDON (AFP) - Nearly half of British Asians would only marry someone of their own race, according to a survey published Monday.
A total of 44 percent said they would not consider inter-racial marriage – almost five times higher than the figure for white Britons, of whom nine percent said they would only marry within their race.
But 53 percent of Britons with Asian origins said they would not mind a mixed race marriage, compared to 87 percent for whites.
The survey, conducted by pollsters ICM for the BBC Asian Network, probed 500 people aged under 34 living in Britain but who had roots in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh or Sri Lanka. ICM also questioned 235 white people aged under 34.
It found that attitudes to dating were more liberal – 53 percent of those with Asian roots said they would consider dating someone who was white and 44 percent a black person.
And they were more likely to have friends from different racial groups than whites – 31 percent said all or most of their closest friends were from the same race compared to 69 percent of white people.
Bangladeshis were most likely to say most or all of their friends were from the same race, according to the survey.
Attitudes to homosexuality were strict, though – 44 percent of people of Asian origin said they thought same sex relationships were immoral, compared to eight percent of whites.
Re: Nearly half British Asians reject mixed race marriage
I think race is not the main issue for them, it's culture and values.
They're not being racist, it's just that friction can happen when it comes to things like relationships with the extended family (white people only believe in nuclear family so no tagging parents along), not drinking alcohol or going out to pubs/clubs, different language, different religion, different foods, music etc.
A lot of educated middle class white people (who are the least racist out of them) don't believe in mixed race marriages for matters of identity.
My white mate (older woman) who is wonderful, she even knows I'm bisexual was totally against the idea of me dating her daughter when another mate suggested it and she wasn't shy to say it's because she does not believe in mixed marriages because the kids will turn out confused, and I think I agree with that.
A lot of people can only fall in love with someone they can relate to, for me i thought i could only have a long-term relationship with someone who has to be either Muslim or be from Pak/North-India/Persia/Afghan region (may be Arab or Turk as well)...
Re: Nearly half British Asians reject mixed race marriage
I think race is not the main issue for them, it's culture and values.
They're not being racist, it's just that friction can happen when things like relationships with the extended family (parents etc.), not drinking alcohol or going out to pubs/clubs, different language, different religion, different foods, music etc.
A lot of educated middle class white people (who are the least racist out of them) don't believe in mixed race marriages for matters of identity.
** My white mate (older woman) who is wonderful, she even knows I'm bisexual was totally against the idea of me dating her daughter when another mate suggested it and she wasn't shy to say it's because she does not believe in mixed marriages because the kids will turn out confused, and I think I agree with that.**
A lot of people can only fall in love with someone they can relate to, for me i thought i could only have a long-term relationship with someone who has to be either Muslim or be from Pak/North-India/Persia/Afghan region (maybe Arab or Turk aswell)...
Re: Nearly half British Asians reject mixed race marriage
My white mate (older woman) who is wonderful, she even knows I'm bisexual was totally against the idea of me dating her daughter when another mate suggested it and she wasn't shy to say it's because she does not believe in mixed marriages because the kids will turn out confused, and I think I agree with that.
I have the distinct feeling that your friend is probably more against her daughter and you dating because of your bisexuality. She probably does not beleve in mixed marriages either but in your case this belief is mainly being used as an excuse.
Bisexuality is just fine if you and your partners are comfortable with it, but is emotionally very hard on potential partners if they are not in sync with your sexuality. I think your friend probably fears more for her daughters emotions than anything else.
Re: Nearly half British Asians reject mixed race marriage
I have the distinct feeling that your friend is probably more against her daughter and you dating because of your bisexuality. She probably does not beleve in mixed marriages either but in your case this belief is mainly being used as an excuse.
Bisexuality is just fine if you and your partners are comfortable with it, but is emotionally very hard on potential partners if they are not in sync with your sexuality. I think your friend probably fears more for her daughters emotions than anything else.
I wasn't really going to go date her daughter, she's got quite a goodlooking fella but i wish he'd stop walking around everywhere with a hand down his pants...
We were just talking hypothetically, trust me she's not shy or afraid to voice her opnion, if she had issues with sexuality she'd say so.
Re: Nearly half British Asians reject mixed race marriage
Excuse my ignorance but I didn't know bisexuality is kind of considered acceptable among Pakistanis. Anyway, I am sorry if I sound harsh and am off the topic...
Re: Nearly half British Asians reject mixed race marriage
I personally have no problem with the idea of marrying outside my race...if anything I'm of the opinion that it is enriching to mix with other cultures and races...
Re: Nearly half British Asians reject mixed race marriage
nothing wrong with mixed race marriages as long as the couple can find peace of mind in their relationship. peace of mind is hard to attain even with some same race marriages whether arranged or not.
i think if one half of a couple is pakistani then they will find it impossible to completely leave their culture, thats why you see most of these relationships adopting as many of the pakistani marriage norms as possible.
in the uk pakistanis have developed sub cultures especially the kids born in the uk. even same race marriages of these kids are having to think long and hard about what of their sub culture they wish to ditch. for example one of the uk sub cultures is of the 'bad boys chillin', these pakistanis like to have a laff, sometimes nothing but a laff. so when marriage sets in, do they continue their out and about laffs or do they settle down and make their home as inviting as possible for the older generation to visit.
being born to parents of impeccable morals is something newer generation pakishatanis find hard to emulate for their own kids
proffesional couples have the same problems but find it easier to draw lines of what they can and cant do.
all mixed race marriages with a pakistani involved are doomed if the two people continue to some extend live slightly differently from each other. there is always some aspects of the culture friends and familly expect from any couple, these expectations play on the mind of mixed race couples more. i once had to ask a friend of mine to stop hitting his white wife because of the many insecurities lurking in his mind. the main one of which was the fact that he expected to live a solitary life with his wife without really trying to gain acceptence from his familly. his famillys concerns were not of a mixed race marriage but for the lifestyle he was living. they now have many kids and are living happily with and around his wider familly.
Re: Nearly half British Asians reject mixed race marriage
Excuse my ignorance but I didn't know bisexuality is kind of considered acceptable among Pakistanis. Anyway, I am sorry if I sound harsh and am off the topic...
She isn't Paki.
I'm Paki though and Pakis had better learn to move with the times.
I thought whitey was racist?