Interracial / Intercultural Communication Interracial

Interracial / Intercultural Communication

Interracial and Intercultural Communication: Challenges and Benefits

Intercultural and interracial relationships come with a far share of issues. Partners may face cultural, linguistic, and even tolerance barriers. Even worse, many within society frown upon such relationships, and tend to push for relationships to be between people of similar backgrounds. Tension from such demands can really weigh a couple down.

There are a number of challenges these individuals face. These are often found in the form of challenges in communication styles, where individuals from different cultural or racial backgrounds have trouble communicating on the same page. Language barriers can often be subtle, and may go past not understanding syntax being expressed in conversations. In fact, language barriers can also hinder intentions and meanings behind chosen words and language from being properly understood by the individual's partner from a different cultural or racial background. This often results in misunderstandings that can cause tension or misunderstandings within relationships. Language barriers can also be extended to include differences in body languages as well, where one individual may physically react in another way that would offend his or her partner based on the differences in acceptable body language. For example, and American woman might be offended her European boyfriend kisses other women on the check upon greeting them. In order to combat such a massive challenge within intercultural or interracial relationships, it is important for both partners to be active in learning the other's language and mannerisms, so that they two can form an equally established middle ground. Working with one another to learn about each other's culture and language will help create a unique language shared between the couple based on the creation of their own shared culture they establish together.

Despite the connotation of being entirely frowned upon by mainstream society, intercultural and interracial relationships have a number of benefits for couples today. First, the meeting of two very different cultures creates a unique self-established culture that is a hybrid blend of the two. When children are produced in such relationships, they inherent not one cultural background but two; thus exposing them to a much broader expanse of the world at much younger ages. This can help increase the tolerance and cultural awareness of future generations, which is always a positive benefit for a more progressive society.