Interracial Online Dating Do’s and Don’ts

Mixed race couples have become commonplace in the last few decades, with almost 10% of all couples being mixed raced in the UK based on a recent study. Online dating people from different cultures, countries, and races can be very fulfilling, widening your cultural identity and enriching the lives of both people in the relationship.

With this in mind, you may have started to fall for someone of a different race and worried that you may say something or do something that isn’t appropriate. It can be interesting and educational dating someone from a different background. You’ll have different ideas about what’s acceptable, what’s normal, and how things are done – but this can be part of the fun! As long as you get along well and have good chemistry, there’s no reason why this should stop you from dating and having a long-lasting relationship. If you’re interested, try interracial dating on swirlr.com.

There are a few things to keep in mind that will make the process easier, though.

1) Stay open-minded.

When you start going out with someone that grew up in a different culture, there will naturally be differences in how you see the world. The secret is to keep your mind open and be welcoming to new ideas. If you respect the person’s views and understand where they are coming from, you may find that you begin to gain a new appreciation of the world and the people in it. Neither of you is necessarily ‘right,’ and discussing the differences in an open an honest way is a fantastic way to build a relationship with someone.

2) Be aware of your assumptions.

 Your knowledge of other people’s ideas and culture most likely hasn’t come from someone from that culture, but rather from mass media or your social group. While this may help and give you some initial ideas on what someone believes, it’s most likely separated from reality. Check your assumptions and leave them at the door. Open yourself to learn from the person at face value. It can be very appealing when someone shows a genuine interest in your ideas, so take this approach, and you won’t go far wrong.

3) Date the person.

At the end of the day, you’re dating a person who has built their personality through a million different influences. Regardless of where they are from, get to know the person, their ambitions and fears, as you would anyone. Someone’s race is just a segment of their personality.

 4) Be aware of potential issues.

There will always be some delicate ground when dating someone from a different race. One thing to keep in mind is never to be someone’s experiment. If you hear them saying ‘I’ve always had a thing for XXX type of person,’ this is a potential red flag. It means they are dating you as an experiment, rather than as a person. This can lead to issues down the road once the initial intrigue has gone.

Also, be aware that your family may not be as open-minded or delicate when talking to someone as you are. Make sure to give them the heads up if this may be an issue. Give them a quick brief on things that are acceptable, and things that aren’t.