Sociological Research Essay: Who Do We Love?

The love of affection is a term that I feel I have had in my life and was easily portrayed as a need. My parents are the people in who brought me into this world. They have shown me their ways of becoming a person- by me making my own decisions, and most importantly having a walk with Christ. They may have been a pain to me through discipline, but they always have shown me their love through affection.

The idea of universal love is one that is prevalent in the media. With the news filled with grim stories and horror many people are calling to the idea of loving everyone. Tensions are high concerning race relations, gender discrimination, and sexual orientation. Many in the general public are calling for humanity to embrace humanity. Many in the general public are asking “why we can’t just love one another”? Stephen T. Asma tackles this idea of love in his article published in the New York Times. Asma discusses two different ideas about universal love before offering his own take on the subject. Just as Asma states, universal love is a myth and closer personal relationships should be favored.

Interracial relationships have become more and more frequent as racial and ethnic groups are now closer and mixed in modern society. Although the number of interracial relationships is increasing, couples are still thought to be different than intra-racial couples. Interracial couples are less stable than intra-racial couples and 1.21 more times the risk of divorce (Zhang and Van Hook, 2009). This is due to a number of factors, strongly associated with societies’ pressure to maintain homogamy within racial and ethnic groups

Lamanna, M. A. & Riedmann, A. (2012). Marriages, Families, & Relationships: Making Choices in a Diverse Society, 11th Edition. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Publishing

According to the U. S. Census Reports, interracial marriages have more than tripled between 1980 and today. There are currently 1.6 million interracial marriages in the United States, and that figure is continuing to grow (Duru, 2012). Statistics show that over 70% of American society has no problem with mixed race relationships, and 40% of Americans have already dated someone of another ethnicity. For the most part relationships between people of different races are no different from the interactions between people of the same race (Duru, 2012).

Diversity in cultures throughout the world can often create obstacles when developing relationships. However, despite years of desegregation, social and cultural differences still exist. One of the differences that still exist is the institution of marriage. This is especially true when it comes to the topic of interracial marriages. Which has been described as a marriage between members of two different races. Even though, it has not been that long ago since interracial marriage has been made legal throughout the entire United States. It continues to be one of the biggest conflicts in society today, considering everyone has their different viewpoints on the topic. Since these types of marriages are considered to be an exception rather than a norm, many couples continue to encounter various issues.

The stark divide between love and marriage shown right the way through cannot be comprehended fully by the twenty-first century reader: in today’s society marriage and love are mutually exclusive - you very rarely get one

Regardless of our social rhetoric of color-blindness, when it comes to choosing a spouse we seem to be remarkably aware of color, at least we were legally for more than 200 years and despite legal permission, society still exacts a social opinion on the matter. Law professor Rachel Moran examines this issue in Interracial Intimacy: The Regulation of Race and Romance and argues that the promise of racial justice is tied to integrating our most personal relationships. It is not that interracial marriages will solve the race problem in the United States. However, Moran argues that the lack of them is an indication of the strength of the problem and that they are

The idea of "love at first sight" is a common theme portrayed throughout a wide variety of media outlets within the American culture. In his article "Choosing Mates-The American Way," Martin King Whyte puts forth the idea that in American culture there are two distinctly different theories that describe the process in which we go about choosing a companion, one which involves a marketplace viewpoint and another that is established in love (134). These competing viewpoints surrounding the ways in which we choose our partners are important ideas to consider when thinking about the formation of family bonds within our culture. A few other intriguing viewpoints that I will consider in the formation of my own family is the idea of "choice" that is prevalent amongst our Western culture (Pasupathi 163), as well as, the power that an individuals demographics plays on their opportunities at choosing a companion (Pasupathi 165). With the notion of the "traditional American nuclear family" being constantly challenged and reshaped in our current times, one can get a sense of how the concept of family is a fluid one. As postulated by Stephanie Coontz in her article, "Historical Perspectives of Family Diversity," what constitutes a family has consistently differed throughout history and that one must always take into consideration the context of the many outside influences (socioeconomic, time period, cultural, etc.) that have a part in its formation (55).

Society’s perceptions place greater stress on interracial couples. Americans have a strong need to categorize and segregate. Even modern American society is obsessed with whiteness and the exclusion of anyone who is not of Anglo descent. This creation of a caste system sustains the high status of the White majority and oppresses minorities. Social norms declare that one must be American and White in order to be considered normal; non-Whites are abnormal, un-American, and physically and mentally inferior to Whites (Grapes). Moreover, skin color stratification gives those with lighter skin privilege and preferential treatment. This social norm of discrimination based on skin color further pits races against each other and introduces racial

Sociological perspectives explains love relationships as not perfect but a working progress. A commitment which relies on continuous maintenance and reassurance. Love relationship practices and investments are configured in experiences that will be shared in the past, present and in the future.

The book Interracial relationship was created by David M. Haugen, it explores interracial relationships from many viewpoints. The writers are journalist and give perspectives from those who have experienced interracial relationships and marriages. It has 12 chapters that goes in depth with how interracial relationships are consider more acceptable, the entertainment industry and interracial relationships, interracial marriages and racism and a black women’s response to interracial dating and marriages. Interracial relationships and marriages are increasing and being consider acceptable but it still has been seen as an indication of racial assimilation in America. Teens and young adults are willing to try interracial relationships but are afraid of being judge. Many believe that the reason

Once upon a time white woman and a black man walking down the street holding hands used to be unheard of. It was a relationship that, for the few who engaged in it, was kept as secret as possible. During the sixties, interracial dating was not socially acceptable and there were consequence for those who were involved in such behaviors with various laws that were in play, such as the Jim Crow laws, kept the people of different races such as white and black for being together it was seen as extremely socially deviant to go against these rules. Interracial dating and marriage are fairly new socially acceptable concepts that have been

The world we know of today has mixed emotions of love and hatred. There are some days where the love stands out, while some days people are filled with anger and hatred. The set of short stories I read, “What We Do For Love,” aspected the days of love and kindness in a way I wouldn’t haven’t been able to. This category was able to say that having a loving and nurturing community makes life easier than a community with disagreements and hatred.

seems that the main reason Phaedrus's point is valid is because in one of the