George Yancey First Coined the Term African American Alienation Theory to Explain Why African

George Yancey first coined the term “African American alienation theory” to explain why African Americans show aversion to interracial dating. This theory, however, can be extended to apply to all individuals of color in explaining why they do not typically date outside their own race. In particular, the theory asserts that individuals of color choose not to date interracially because they have been ostracized from white society as a whole and because of the Eurocentric bias in determining beauty and attraction. Further, the theory suggests that people of color tend to explain other interracial couples in a way that delegitimizes their bonds and motives for being together. After interviewing twenty-three individuals regarding interracial dating, we found that the responses from people of color generally supported Yancey’s theory.

Yancey explains that it was the artificial separation and distinguishing of the different groups that originally lead to their alienation. He asserts, “Individuals who live in marginal social spaces do not have commitment to the current social order and are "alienated" from values and concerns of those in the mainstream. Our racialized society has created a situation in which people of color are vulnerable to alienation”(2009). He continues that this alienation meant that people of color were more likely to be rejected by society, which influenced them to stay within their own group and self-segregate. Childs, too, found similar results: “The collective opposition to interracial relationships is not based in the belief that whites are inferior or undesirable, but rather it is based on white racism, Black internalization of racism, and ulterior motives”(2005). This explanation she provides for black opposition to interracial dating supports alienation theory, as she points out it is the reaction of blacks to white racism that leads to their rejection of intimate or romantic relationships. People of color who have less authority and influence reject the mainstream white culture that has snubbed them and turn to their own race for romantic relations.

Beyond the general ways in which people of color have been alienated or rejected by white society, the American views of beauty have also been constructed to exclude those who are not white, especially African Americans. This is important because attraction and beauty are especially important with regards to dating. Yancey explains, “Previous research suggests a Eurocentric bias in evaluation of physical beauty…The distinct alienation African Americans experience likely leads to a comparatively lower level of trust of majority group members as romantic partners”(2009). It is important that people of color do not feel like they are viewed as beautiful by mainstream society, and this alienation is what leads to their own rejection of white people as partners. Childs, too, found that many of the women in her study discussed how women of color do not fall into the category of beautiful for many white men. “The essence of what it means to be feminine is equated with white. Under these feminine norms African American women can never be as beautiful as white women because they never become white…They [women in study] discussed how the majority of white men do not find Black women attractive or acceptable as mates”(2005). Attractiveness plays a large part in what we find important in dating, and because our society has a European notions of beauty, women of color are not regarded as highly by some. Therefore, they reject the mainstream society, as Yancey suggested. Schoepflin interviewed women of color and found that they, too, echo the sentiment in Childs’ and Yancey’s studies that white men do not find them attractive. One woman said, “I have white males that are friendly to me, but they would not approach me. I don't understand why. Are they intimidated by me? Are they afraid of what their friends or the campus may say about them?”(2009). Again, the notion of American, white beauty has created a standard that women of color do not fit into. These feelings of isolation and distrust for the mainstream culture lead people of color to reject the hierarchical structure and develop close communal bonds with oneanother.

Finally, alienation theory gives a lens through which we can interpret the way that people of color who are aversive to interracial dating view couples who are in interracial relationships. The theory suggests that people will tend to find ways to explain the relationships that delegitimize motives from the white perspective. Schoepflin notes that many of the black women she talked to expressed beliefs that white women do not have genuine interest in black men they date, but rather fascination or curiosity due to their race. “They're not used to seeing blacks, and they've heard stories and myths about black men. So when they get here, they're just so curious and they just wanna know how it is to be with a black man”(2009). The black women assume white women are racist or do not have genuine motives in dating men of a different race. This mistrust plays into the alienation theory because again, people of color assume that white people will not truly take people of another race seriously as a potential for a mate.

The alienation theory Yancey first described was supported by our results from the twenty-three interviewees. Firstly, many of the people of color expressed the general sense of exclusion from white society at Boston College that leads to alienation theory. This sense of exclusion does not manifest itself in the same way throughout all the races because of the racial hierarchy that exists in society. Yang, Sidanius and Pratto explain that Euro-Americans have the highest social status, followed by Asians, Hispanics, and finally African Americans (1998). This is crucial in our understanding of opposition to interracial relationships because this racial hierarchy means that different people of color react and respond to their own exclusion in different ways. Many interviewees of color referenced that racial hierarchy in their comments, and explained the effect of the different power each race holds. The sense of exclusion and alienation from society that the people of color expressed was then translated into their dating experience at Boston College and who they saw as potential mates. Many of the comments made exclusively about dating contained notions of attraction and, as alienation theory has suggested, the Eurocentric view of beauty has caused minorities to believe that other races, particularly whites, would not find them attractive and therefore they do not attempt to approach them, looking solely within their own race for dating partners. Gender plays a large part in this notion of attraction and the way that people of color perceive interracial dating. Race and gender work hand in hand when it comes to these preferences. For instance, black females and black males have contrasting views on interracial romantic relationships. Finally, the way in which the people of color we interviewed view other interracial couples supported the theory of interracial dating, as they mostly explained the motives in ways that dismissed any true attraction or feelings.

Many interviewees of a minority race expressed the feeling of not being accepted by the Boston College white culture. Alienation theory is based on the racism of the dominant white race. All of the interviewees observed that Blacks, Hispanics, and Asians tend to stick within their own racial groups and that they at times, can be intimidating and difficult to approach. Many of the interviewees of color mentioned that the different minority groups tend to stick together so that they can avoid rejection, primarily from the white race. One African American female explained, “Race sets up the social climate, what party you are going to, who you are going to work with in class, sit with, therefore who you are going to form relationships with.” Another African American male said, “I feel like as much as BC tries to push this whole like idea of being a melting pot, in so many ways, it’s so segregated. Black people are sitting with black people, Indians with Indians, Asians, etc.—BC keeps saying it is a community, but people still walk around in packs .”A few people of color even explicitly said, “Whites are the most unwelcoming” and the “most resistant to interracial dating.” One African American female said, “Groups are scary and hard. Sometimes I don’t feel welcome, there’s not a lot to relate and I’m most comfortable with a group of Black people. I feel like whites and Asians are most unwelcoming.” In response to whether or not race affects interracial dating, another black female said, “You are put in a certain sphere where you are only going to talk to certain people because they are most like you, and where you are not as fearful of rejection.” Rejection is a key work here, because it is that fear of rejection that drives alienation theory. She further went on to say, “I would not be comfortable with other races. There is no expectation of being wanted back at White or other race parties.” Another black female explained the ostracizing and judgment that occurs with interracial dating. She explained, “There is a lot of stereotyping—ostracizing through group of friends – friends not being comfortable to hang out with people of other races.” People of color also expressed the feeling that whites are very insensitive and ignorant about race. When asked how it would be like to date a white male, a black female said that it would never work “because he would not be comfortable to talk about race because [the white] consensus of BC is to not talk about it and just live with it. A relationship needs a mutual understanding of what each other is all about and what makes them them. Race makes me me; a regular [white] BC guy would not be comfortable with it so there would be no way.” This demonstrates that people of color are fully aware of white racism and therefore must respond to it by staying within their own racial group.

The interviews also revealed the existence of the racial hierarchy that affects the way different races view interracial dating. In this hierarchy, whites are on top followed by Asians, Hispanics, and Blacks on the bottom. Two interviewees explicitly ranked the power of the different races, both concurring with the hierarchy previously mentioned. An Asian male discussed how his parents would react to him dating other races. He said that they would be completely fine with white, less so with Hispanic, and definitely would not approve of an African American. This is important because we found that African Americans, who are the “lowest” on the racial hierarchy, were most aversive of all minorities to interracial dating, which supports alienation theory. When asked if a relationship with other races can potentially occur, females expressed their feeling for each race. Most of them laughed when asked about how a white male would respond to them. Each of the African American females said along the lines of “Whites definitely not; Asians, I don’t think, but a little better than the white male; Latinos, much more than Asians.” The closer to their ranking, the more comfortable they are with that race. The hierarchy grows even deeper within the races. A black interviewee explained, “There is a unwritten unspoken hierarchy between races – lighter the you are, the better off you will be- the darker you are, the less you will be able to succeed especially if you are a woman. The hierarchy goes within the black race as well with darker and lighter skin.” Also important is that two of the interviewees were part Hispanic but identified as white. In this sense, they were actually on the “top” of the racial hierarchy even though Hispanics are further down, because their appearance allowed them to fit into the white dominant role. When one of the Hispanic males who considered himself Caucasian was asked what he might feel about dating someone of a different race, he replied, “To be honest, and not to sound racist, not really interested. Like I said, I really only hang out with Caucasians, so I don’t really get a chance to interact with different races, and if I do interact, it’s like one in a hundred. I mean I’ve been attracted to maybe one or two black women in my entire life, and they’re celebrities. Same thing with Asians, but even less so. I find no Asians attractive. I’m just being honest, sorry.” He has the freedom and the privilege of being able to fall into the category of white, and so he immediately jumps to be defined as such (saying, “I associate myself with being Caucasian; not really Hispanic”) in order to receive the benefits that the racial hierarchy gives to those on top.

As many previous studies have found, white dominance in the United States is further enhanced by the notion of beauty and attraction. As Yancey found, the Eurocentric view reveres white people as the standard of ultimate beauty. There is a mainstream perception that thin, tall, blonde, blue-eyed, people are the most attractive. One male explained why he is not interested in dating black women. “I don’t find them as physically attractive,” he said. “Facially and size.” These comments and notions of beauty are exactly the types of thoughts that people of color react to. One African American female said, “Me spitting game at a regular BC white guy would never work. The average BC white guy here is such a cookie cutter, polo shirt wearing, regular guy.” For her, a regular white male implies that she would not be sought after as a woman of color. Another African American female broke out in laughter at the thought of a white guy approaching her. “He would not give me the time of day, if I tried to throw some game at him, they wouldn’t know what to do…don’t know how to approach me.” Asian male discussed how no other race except for Asian girls would be attracted to him because he does not fit the Eurocentric view of beauty for men. He said that he was “too short and not macho enough,” especially for the white girls’ standards. Some Asian males expressed that they do not find white women attractive at all, and prefer only Asian girls. This, too, can be explained by the past of rejection and the fact that white females can be so unattainable for Asian males. This lack of response from people of other races causes those of color to turn within their race for dating possibilities. One African American female explains the limited dating pool: “The reason why we fuck with Football players is there are not enough attractive Black guys on campus, not a lot of Black men in general. Not a lot of Black men that are not athletes making it even more limiting—the amount of people to choose from are extremely limited. I would not be comfortable with other races.” Again, it is evident that it is the rejection from the dominant white race that causes those of color to date within their own race.

Gender plays a large role in interracial dating because of its role in the social hierarchy as well as the way those of different genders are affected by different notions of beauty. This is demonstrated the most between the black female and the black male. The society has made males the dominant gender. When adding gender to the racial hierarchy, white males would be on the very top with black females on the very bottom. Proven by many interviewees, it was common notion that white males were seen to be the most resistant of anyone to interracial dating. Racist white males that refuse to participate in interracial dating provoke the alienation that is affecting the black females the most. In correlation with other studies, the interview data shows that African American women in particular do not interracially date. Three of the four black females interviewed have never been in an interracial relationship, whereas all of the males of color (Asian and Black) interviewed have dated interracially. A number of interviewees noted that black males can and will date women of any race while black females tend to stick with black males. Black females talked about how they struggle with the limited amount of dating partners available to them. They feel like they, especially would not be accepted by males of other races. Black females are on the lowest of the lowest rung of the racial and social ladder. Even within their own race, black males look down upon black females. One African American male stated that it is difficult to date black women because they “come off with an attitude, a confidence and swag that is very intimidating. They are never afraid to put someone in their place. It can be scary sometimes.” While one black female said, “In the black community, a black girl going out with a white guy is less accepted than the other way around. A white girl dating a black guy is more controversial to us black girls because we think, ‘why is he doing that, why is he dating outside his race?’ There is feeling of ‘why are you intruding on my turf?’ taking away of what is ‘mine.’” This makes it especially difficult for Black females because they already have such limited choices for partners and some African American males do not even want to get involved with them. Being on the lowest level of both the racial and social ladder, black females are affected the most by the dominance of the white majority. This can also be further explained by the ways that women are expected to fit into standard notions of beauty more than men. Black females especially questioned whether or not other races would find them attractive, since they do not fit this white standard of beauty.