Mixed Family Problems
Interracial couples may experience mixed family problems that will plague them throughout the marriage. When two individuals of different ethnic, religious, or cultural backgrounds choose to wed, facing opposition will become a part of married life. Biracial, multiethnic and cross-cultural families may face discrimination in areas of employment, housing, education, healthcare and religion. Caucasian women married to African American or Hispanic men may experience discrimination or be denied career advancement when coworkers or employers discover their mate's ethnicity. While the Equal Opportunity Employment Act of 1972 in the U.S. forbids workplace discrimination, such actions are difficult to prove. Many times, biracial couples either continue trying to keep a marriage secret, change jobs or relocate to more metropolitan areas where they can blend in.
Because of the Fair Housing Act of 1968 and the Civil Rights Act of 1966, mixed family problems are not as prevalent today for couples seeking to own or rent a home. Prior to the late 60s and 70s, African Americans and other ethnic groups were routinely denied equal housing, especially in predominantly Caucasian neighborhoods. But in the twenty-first century, there seems to be fewer obstacles when it comes to home financing. Banks and lending institutions may reason that regardless of a couple's race, religion or creed, money is still green. However, a lending institution's non-bias does not negate the fact that interracial and cross-cultural families may experience bigotry from a next door neighbor. In fact, many religious sects practice a mild form of segregation, preferring to settle among people of similar spiritual beliefs.
Residing in a neighborhood or subdivision based on the race or religion of its residents can be problematic for outsiders married to members. To a spouse who is also an outsider, language barriers, dietary restrictions or religious observances may present mixed family problems that could place undue stress on a marriage. American women married to Middle Eastern men may find the greatest challenge to be conforming to strict standards of dress or codes of conduct for females. Muslim women, for example, have few personal freedoms and are relegated to a status below males. A free-spirited American will be reluctant to give up some liberties, such as wearing form-fitting revealing clothing, to be shrouded in a jihab, the traditional Muslim attire which completely enshrouds a female's body.
For hundreds of years, Catholics endured the fear of excommunication for marrying a spouse outside of the faith. Since biblical times, mixed family problems have existed. Most notable, the Israelis and Arabs (both descendents of Abraham), have been bitter enemies fighting in an unending war to gain control of a tiny strip of land in the Middle East called Gaza. While rare, marriages between Arabs and Israelis do occur, certainly to the chagrin of the husband and wife's families. But, in the eyes of God, there is only one race and that is the human race. At Calvary's Cross, the shed blood of Jesus destroyed the wall of partition between Jew and Greek and forever unites all mankind in one blood. "For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise" (Galatians 3:26-29).
Healthcare may also present mixed family problems, as some religions prohibit the use of blood transfusions or enforce ceremonial laws regarding personal hygiene. Jewish babies must be circumcised on the eighth day by a priest; but a non-Jewish mother might object to the practice. Jehovah Witnesses believe that consenting to blood transfusions is tantamount to drinking blood. Mixed family problems might arise between parents who observe abstinence from blood if doctors feel that a transfusion might save a minor child's life. In such cases, the courts can overrule a parent's decision to withhold treatment for life threatening diseases based on religious beliefs.
A variety of mixed family problems may plague children of biracial or cross- cultural parents. Not only will the kids need to learn two or more languages, but they may also be forced to choose one parent's religious beliefs over anothers. Imagine the inner conflict of a child born to an African American Baptist father and a Caucasian Catholic mother. For kids of Jewish and Protestant parentage, holidays could easily turn into a tug of war between moms and dads vying for their children's devotion to traditional Christmas observances versus Hannukah. In a Muslim household, the eating of pork is strictly prohibited. But children and their dual-religion parents who live in a non-Muslim community might have constant contact with relatives who routinely serve swine.
Although the acceptance of interracial unions has increased in recent years, husbands and wives must still deal with bigotry, sometimes in the immediate families. In the United States, a Caucasian woman may face mixed family problems including severe opposition and blatant prejudice when marrying an African American man, especially in the Deep South. Prevalent since African slaves first set foot in America, racial bigotry seems to have diminished in the last decade. But thousands of blacks and some whites lost their lives fighting for minorities in America to have the same rights as Caucasians; and the battle was not easy. Multiethnic or cross-cultural couples contemplating marriage should count up the cost of living in a society that might not be tolerant of others differences. Falling in love is easy, but enduring racial or religious bigotry can place stress on husbands, wives and children. Society has come a long way since the race riots of the turbulent 60s and 70s. Hopefully, the trend toward intermarriage and the development of a more global society will lessen the adverse affects of prejudice.
Because of the Fair Housing Act of 1968 and the Civil Rights Act of 1966, mixed family problems are not as prevalent today for couples seeking to own or rent a home. Prior to the late 60s and 70s, African Americans and other ethnic groups were routinely denied equal housing, especially in predominantly Caucasian neighborhoods. But in the twenty-first century, there seems to be fewer obstacles when it comes to home financing. Banks and lending institutions may reason that regardless of a couple's race, religion or creed, money is still green. However, a lending institution's non-bias does not negate the fact that interracial and cross-cultural families may experience bigotry from a next door neighbor. In fact, many religious sects practice a mild form of segregation, preferring to settle among people of similar spiritual beliefs.
Residing in a neighborhood or subdivision based on the race or religion of its residents can be problematic for outsiders married to members. To a spouse who is also an outsider, language barriers, dietary restrictions or religious observances may present mixed family problems that could place undue stress on a marriage. American women married to Middle Eastern men may find the greatest challenge to be conforming to strict standards of dress or codes of conduct for females. Muslim women, for example, have few personal freedoms and are relegated to a status below males. A free-spirited American will be reluctant to give up some liberties, such as wearing form-fitting revealing clothing, to be shrouded in a jihab, the traditional Muslim attire which completely enshrouds a female's body.
For hundreds of years, Catholics endured the fear of excommunication for marrying a spouse outside of the faith. Since biblical times, mixed family problems have existed. Most notable, the Israelis and Arabs (both descendents of Abraham), have been bitter enemies fighting in an unending war to gain control of a tiny strip of land in the Middle East called Gaza. While rare, marriages between Arabs and Israelis do occur, certainly to the chagrin of the husband and wife's families. But, in the eyes of God, there is only one race and that is the human race. At Calvary's Cross, the shed blood of Jesus destroyed the wall of partition between Jew and Greek and forever unites all mankind in one blood. "For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise" (Galatians 3:26-29).
Healthcare may also present mixed family problems, as some religions prohibit the use of blood transfusions or enforce ceremonial laws regarding personal hygiene. Jewish babies must be circumcised on the eighth day by a priest; but a non-Jewish mother might object to the practice. Jehovah Witnesses believe that consenting to blood transfusions is tantamount to drinking blood. Mixed family problems might arise between parents who observe abstinence from blood if doctors feel that a transfusion might save a minor child's life. In such cases, the courts can overrule a parent's decision to withhold treatment for life threatening diseases based on religious beliefs.
A variety of mixed family problems may plague children of biracial or cross- cultural parents. Not only will the kids need to learn two or more languages, but they may also be forced to choose one parent's religious beliefs over anothers. Imagine the inner conflict of a child born to an African American Baptist father and a Caucasian Catholic mother. For kids of Jewish and Protestant parentage, holidays could easily turn into a tug of war between moms and dads vying for their children's devotion to traditional Christmas observances versus Hannukah. In a Muslim household, the eating of pork is strictly prohibited. But children and their dual-religion parents who live in a non-Muslim community might have constant contact with relatives who routinely serve swine.
Although the acceptance of interracial unions has increased in recent years, husbands and wives must still deal with bigotry, sometimes in the immediate families. In the United States, a Caucasian woman may face mixed family problems including severe opposition and blatant prejudice when marrying an African American man, especially in the Deep South. Prevalent since African slaves first set foot in America, racial bigotry seems to have diminished in the last decade. But thousands of blacks and some whites lost their lives fighting for minorities in America to have the same rights as Caucasians; and the battle was not easy. Multiethnic or cross-cultural couples contemplating marriage should count up the cost of living in a society that might not be tolerant of others differences. Falling in love is easy, but enduring racial or religious bigotry can place stress on husbands, wives and children. Society has come a long way since the race riots of the turbulent 60s and 70s. Hopefully, the trend toward intermarriage and the development of a more global society will lessen the adverse affects of prejudice.
Mixed Family Problems
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