I have a question to pose... stereotypes wouldn't be stereotypes if the overwealming percentage of people about which those stereotypes were made were nothing like that, would they?
Just wondering. I think that when I was much younger I had grand, uber- liberal views and thought that anything that even hinted at stereotyping or racism was from the pits of hell. I just don't know after seeing so many stereotypes that hold true. I'm not trying to be right- I'm trying to be totally honest, even if it doesn't sound too politically correct.
I have to agree with Celery here. On both this thread and the bi-racial babies thread I've read about over and over that "I have a good friend that is ____" or "one of my best friends is _____". Whenever I hear a sentence start out that way I know that the person is trying to prove that they are not at all prejudiced and are completely color blind, yet in the back of my head I'm thinking that they are, except when it comes to their "best friend", and trying to cover up their own stereotypes and issues. I think it's time for people to step down off their holier than thou pedestals and stop trying to receive the Most Politically Correct of 2006 award. Yay to you for your self-proclaimed color blindness and accepting ways!
If these were not issues to some, there wouldn't be discussions like this occuring.
Additionally, while living in some areas of the US (or the world in general) you may be exposed to different cultural norms, you've got to remember that there are parts of the country/world where interracial relationships are NOT something you see everyday and are NOT something that is readily excepted by the general public. Right or wrong, that is how it is.
Bismarck told us about his views, and that of his friends, as a white male and I don't think it's fair to criticize him and his opinions. While he cannot speak for ALL white males, I'm willing to bet there are a vast number of them out there that feel the same way, even if they wouldn't publically admit it. Including many of your husbands. Additionally, I'm sure there are many of you out there that don't find members of the opposite sex of a different race attractive. Big deal! Everyone finds certain qualities more attractive than others - and that includes race. It's human nature. Personally, I'm not at all attracted to Asian, middle Eastern, or Hispanic men. This doesn't make me bad - it's all about my personal ideas of what makes a man attractive. Just as Bismarck doesn't find the nude black body attractive, I'd rather not see a nude Asian guy. And you know what? I don't HAVE to. Do I look down on those that find them attractive? No. Would I change my mind if you started listing Asian men you find attractive? No. EVERYONE has their own ideals as to what is attractive and what is not.
I have to agree with Celery here. On both this thread and the bi-racial babies thread I've read about over and over that "I have a good friend that is ____" or "one of my best friends is _____". Whenever I hear a sentence start out that way I know that the person is trying to prove that they are not at all prejudiced and are completely color blind, yet in the back of my head I'm thinking that they are, except when it comes to their "best friend", and trying to cover up their own stereotypes and issues. I think it's time for people to step down off their holier than thou pedestals and stop trying to receive the Most Politically Correct of 2006 award. Yay to you for your self-proclaimed color blindness and accepting ways!
Sometimes I feel this way too. Even in the "Huge Age Gaps Between Lovers" thread, which has been very civil, I kinda feel like people are being overly PC, saying things like "It's none of my business, as long as they're happy." Yeah, sure, that's all well and good, and on a purely philosophical, theoretical level, I agree, but c'mon... you honestly mean to tell me that when you see a 65 year old in failing health dating some very attractive 25 year old, it doesn't turn your head, even just a LITTLE?? That you don't even bat an eyelash? I just don't buy it.
For me personally, the same holds true, at least to some extent, with inter-racial dating. I honestly don't have a problem with it (and that's not me being defensive at all; it's the truth, and I won't belittle that statement by saying, "Two of my best friends are in an inter-racial relationship") and truth be told, I think it's a beautiful thing. But to say or even imply that I don't even notice when two people of different races are dating would be untrue. Of course I notice. I think it's great, I applaud it, and in order for me to do that, I have to notice in the first place.
I just hate the constant "For me, it's a non-issue" statements. (although come to think of it, I just made one in the same-sex parents thread... oops! ) I guess for some people, some issues really are "non-issues" but if they were complete non-issues for everyone, would we even be talking about it?
Having said that, I have to admit that even I was more than a little put-off by Bismarck's post. I'm all for discussing this topic honestly, but making absurd generalizations about the "nude black female form" just seems.... I don't know, tactless? Crude, maybe? I don't know, the words are escaping me at the moment, but it just didn't sit well with me.
ETA: I just put my finger on why the generalizations Bis made were so disturbing to me. As others have pointed out, black women (and women of all races, for that matter) come in all shapes and sizes. The ONLY thing that ALL black women would have in common, the ONLY thing that ties them all together, appearance-wise, is their race. If the shade of their skin is what Bis and his friends find unattractive, then so be it, but I just find that a little un-nerving.
I would only like to point out that Bismarck and his friends aren't the only males on this planet.
What if I didn't, find women with, say, brown eyes as attractive as women with green eyes. Would that mean "most" men would feel the same? No, it would not.
My point - there's nothing wrong with Bismarck not finding black women attractive. However, that only means that he himself doesn't find them attractive. Whether or not most other men feel the same way is a totally different story
My point was not supposed to be whether 'white' women are more attracted to 'black' men than vice versa. I was actually wondering if anyone has an opinion about the frequency of "black man/white woman" relationships as oppossed to "white man/black woman" relationships being attributed to our culture which has its roots in a small group of priveleged white men (here I mean, America, Canada, Britain, Australia etc.) and if this continues today.
Anyway, I'm sorry if my post may have offended anyone--personally I believe that whoever is which 'race' is not the issue--(or a issue honestly, but heck, now i'm going off topic) it's not the central issue that I intended to raise anyhow. I do not mean to cause offence to anybody, no matter the 'race' of themselves or of their partner, its more a question of our collective culture.
My point was not supposed to be whether 'white' women are more attracted to 'black' men than vice versa. I was actually wondering if anyone has an opinion about the frequency of "black man/white woman" relationships as oppossed to "white man/black woman" relationships being attributed to our culture which has its roots in a small group of priveleged white men (here I mean, America, Canada, Britain, Australia etc.) and if this continues today.
.
Okay, back on topic!
Yes, according to the US Census bureau, there are more marriages between black men/white women then white men/black women.
In 1960: BM/WW=25,000 WM/BW=26,000
In 1970: BM/WW=41,000 WM/BW=25,000
In 1980: BM/WW=94,000 WM/BW=27,000
In 1991: BM/WW=156,000 WM/BW=75,000
In 1992: BM/WW=246,000 WM/BW=163,000
I also found these facts:
Interesting Determinants of Interracial Marriage
Odds of an individual becoming involved in an interracial marriage increase with higher educational attainment
Both men and women from ‘lower status racial groups’ but with higher education levels tend to marry spouses from a ‘higher status racial group’ with low education levels
Blacks and Whites that marry interracially tend to have a higher socioeconomic status than those who don’t
Hispanics and Asian Americans have higher levels of interracial marriage than African Americans despite immigration
Most Interracial Marriages occur in mixed-race geographic areas
Native-born racial minorities are more likely to be involved in an interracial marriage than foreign-born
Most interracial marriages involve whites and another minority
Kinda off the topic, but...
I was watching some show about hauntings the other night and they were talking about a woman who was known as a really horrible slave owner. One thing she did that surprised the hell out of me was to have sex with her favorite slaves. While I know that white male slave owners did the same, I was surprised to find that a white woman did as well. I would have thought that she wouldn't want to risk getting pregnant and all the stigma that would have brought to her in pre-Civil war times.
I have received much flack in this thread for what I have said, and I wish to point out that none of you are men. None of you know exactly what it is that a man looks for. Sure, you can talk about chests and bottoms, but you lack an understanding of the subtle things that make a woman attractive to a man. It's not about large bottoms, large chests, attitudes, or any of the other stereotypes that have been mentioned. I will not delve into the details, for they involve graphic sexuality that is not appropriate on a board such as this.
I would also like to point out that in my original post I made it clear that I was speaking of the typical man, not all men. When speaking of the minds of people, there is just one rule: there are no rules. People can be categorized. Some people like this, some people like that. However, definite statements can never be made. There are always exceptions.
You cannot post new topics in this board You cannot reply to topics in this board You cannot edit your posts in this board You cannot delete your posts in this board You cannot vote in polls in this board
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Private messages (0)
Log in
) I guess for some people, some issues really are "non-issues" but if they were complete non-issues for 
