Researchers often assume that close interracial relationships, especially intermarriage, simultaneously reflect and cause a weakening of racial and ethnic boundaries and inequality between groups. In fact, interracial marriage is often used as a measure of social distance. We question those assumptions, noting the salient boundaries and durable inequalities that remain despite decades of increases in interracial relationships. We begin with historical examples, showing how, for much of US history, there was no expectation that interracial sexual encounters would reduce racial inequality or weaken boundaries. Incorporating critical race theory and intersectional perspectives, we describe how the impact of interracial intimate relationships is both gendered and classed. We argue that research on contemporary intimate interracial relationships (friendships, dating, and marriage) explains why such relationships may have little impact on attitudes, inequality, and the rigidity of boundaries and call for future research to consider dynamics within the family as well.

中文翻译：

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混合种族，保持种族主义？考虑跨种族家庭、社会距离和种族不平等之间的联系

研究人员通常认为，密切的跨种族关系，尤其是通婚，同时反映和导致种族和民族界限的弱化以及群体之间的不平等。事实上，跨种族婚姻经常被用来衡量社会距离。我们质疑这些假设，注意到尽管跨种族关系几十年来有所增加，但仍然存在显着的界限和持久的不平等现象。我们从历史例子开始，展示在美国历史的大部分时间里，跨种族性接触是如何减少种族不平等或削弱界限的。结合批判种族理论和交叉观点，我们描述了跨种族亲密关系的影响是如何被性别化和分类的。我们认为，对当代亲密跨种族关系（友谊、约会和婚姻）的研究解释了为什么这种关系可能对态度、不平等、家庭内部也是如此。