Color-Blind Ideology Among Black-White Couples A
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INTERRACIAL ROMANTIC COUPLING AND THE COLOR LINE: COLOR-BLIND IDEOLOGY AMONG BLACK-WHITE COUPLES A Dissertation Presented to The Graduate Faculty of The University of Akron-Kent State University In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Erin Pryor August 2010 INTERRACIAL ROMANTIC COUPLING AND THE COLOR LINE: COLOR-BLIND IDEOLOGY AMONG BLACK-WHITE COUPLES Erin Pryor Dissertation Approved: Accepted: ___________________________________ ____________________________________ Advisor Department Chair Dr. C. André Christie-Mizell Dr. John Zipp ___________________________________ ____________________________________ Committee Member Dean of the College Dr. Robert Peralta Dr. Chand Midha ___________________________________ ____________________________________ Committee Member Dean of the Graduate School Dr. David Purcell Dr. George R. Newkome ___________________________________ ____________________________________ Committee Member Date Dr. Nicole Rousseau ___________________________________ Committee Member Dr. Richard T. Serpe ___________________________________ Committee Member Dr. Suzette L. Speight ii ABSTRACT The goal of this dissertation is to explore the operation of color-blind ideology among interracial couples. Research confirms that instead of the blatant racism of the past, covert race issues persist because people tend to use color-blind racial ideology (Bonilla-Silva 2003; Carr 1997) and that interracial relationships are becoming more prevalent and even accepted in the U.S. (Domokos-Cheng 1995; U.S. Census Bureau (see e.g., Bonilla-Silva 2001, 2003; Bonilla-Silva & Lewis 1999; Lewis 2006). Therefore, my research considers how color-blind ideology, a typically macro and/or group-level concept, shapes heterosexual Black-white intimate relationships. The ways in which these couples build and maintain their relationships in a color-blind racist world are examined. As well, the influence of romantic interracial contact on the racial views and operation of racial ideology among these couples is explored in order to better understand the impact of color-blindism. To do so, feminist qualitative methodology is used. This methodology was chosen because of feminism’s commitment to represent, understand and give a voice to marginalized groups (Collins 1991, 2000; DeVault 1996; Harding 1987). Feminists advocate employing a consciousness-raising method, breaking away from traditional research and dismantling the power dynamic between researcher and research participants (Collins 1991,2000; DeVault 1996; Farganis 1986; Reinharz 1992; Sprague and Zimmerman 2004). Specifically, semi-structured interviews with Black-white iii couples are conducted in an effort to emphasize subjective knowledge, to gain an in- depth understanding of the lived experiences of these couples in their own words, and to make visible their experiences as an interracial couple in a color-blind social world. The findings confirm that color-blind ideology pervades the thoughts and interactions of both whites and Blacks involved in interracial relationships. Across the life course, color-blind ideology is prevalent in their upbringing, their interaction as a couple, and their familial and social interactions. This operation of color-blindism reinforces the mutual interplay of structure and ideology. Specifically, the relationship between the racialized social system (structure of society) and color-blind racism (the predominant ideology) is reified and works cooperatively to stimulate and reproduce inequality (Bonilla-Silva 2001, 2003; Bonilla-Silva & Lewis 1999; Carr 1997; Lewis 2006; Oliver and Shapiro 1995). iv ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This dissertation was made possible because of the continuous guidance, support, confidence and inspiration of so many individuals. First and foremost, I must express my deepest gratitude to my advisor and mentor, Dr. André Christie-Mizell. In the five years of working together, he is the force that grounded, impassioned, and focused me to grow as a person and a sociologist. At the beginning of this journey, he encouraged me to carve out my path and he allowed me to figure out what I needed this project to be. Without his unwavering encouragement and supportive guidance, I would not have the confidence to produce a piece of work that is so incredibly personal to me. I also would not have the professional skills and personal assurance that will guide my future success. Dr. Christie-Mizell, I appreciate every lesson, every moment of laughter, every tear, and that even when I do not deserve it, you believe in me. Thank you. I also would like to thank my dissertation committee members, Dr. Richard Serpe, Dr. David Purcell, Dr. Nicole Rousseau, Dr. Robert L. Peralta and Dr. Suzette L. Speight for all the insightful advice and patient flexibility. I truly appreciate that each of you agreed to be a part of my process. Without the positive energy and confidence of my friends, my graduate experience and the completion of this dissertation would have been nearly impossible. I would like to thank Niki for her unconditional love and loyalty—you are my rock, Megan for being family and always listening, Mel for believing I’m a phenomenal woman and v telling me so, and Ken for “finished not famous.” To all the exceptionally special people in my life whom I cherish, thank you for accepting that this dissertation had to be my world and that I had to be absent from all yours for a time. Your encouragement and patience brought this dissertation to completion. Finally, I would like to thank my family. I thank my parents for never making me leave the table as a child during adult conversations, for challenging me to think beyond a single conviction and teaching me to argue my position, for being my role models as true intellectuals, and for never choosing my life for me but supporting me unconditionally as I take every step. Mom, I’m not sure I can find the words… Thank you for your fierce pursuit of knowledge and self-betterment. You are the true trailblazer in our family and it is only because you cleared the path that I always knew this was possible for me. Thank you for always being there with words of encouragement, positive vibes, hugs from a far, and just being present when I felt so alone. Thank you for always being in my corner, but knowing when I need to be put in my place. Dennis, thank for answering the phone when I needed you most—metaphorically, that is the role you’ve always played in my life. Stevo, thanks for understanding my process and for the continual encouragement—it pushed me see this to the end. To Mike, Denise, Dad, Betty, Ryan, and Lindsay thank you for always telling me you are proud of me and believing that I could accomplish this goal. And to Bowen, Michael, Christian, Alara and A.J. follow your heart and believe in yourselves, always and in everything. vi TABLE OF CONTENTS Page LIST OF FIGURES .............................................................................................................x CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................1 Color-Blind Ideology ............................................................................................3 Exploring Color-Blind Ideology and Interracial Relationships ............................5 II. LITERATURE REVIEW .........................................................................................11 Race and the Perpetuation of Racial Inequality ..................................................12 Biological and Socio-Biological Frameworks ................................................14 Social Construction Framework .....................................................................15 Color-Blind Ideology and the Perpetuation of Racial Inequality .......................20 The Structure of Color-Blind Ideology ...........................................................26 Intimate Coupling and Race Differences ............................................................33 Coupling During Slavery and the Pre-Civil Rights Era ..................................35 Coupling in the Post-Civil Rights Era ............................................................40 Interracial Intimate Coupling ..............................................................................52 Race-Mixing During Slavery and the Pre-Civil Rights Era ............................59 Interracial Relationships in the Post-Civil Rights Era ....................................63 Color-Blind Ideology and Intimate Interracial Relationships .............................75 vii III. RESEARCH DESIGN ..............................................................................................79 Feminist Methodology and Grounded Theory ...................................................80 Feminist Methodology and Grounded Theory: The Current Study ................83 The Sample .........................................................................................................85 Convenience Sampling ...................................................................................86 Snowball Sampling .........................................................................................86 Sample Diversity .............................................................................................87 Interview Process ................................................................................................87 IV. COLOR-BLIND SOCIALIZATION AND REACTIONS ......................................91