Are we naturally attracted to people of our own race?

Question

I heard once that when it comes to realtionships, men and women of teh same race are naturally attracted to each other. Although we see people dating outside their races dating, i have always wondered if those people were first attracted to their own race. Is this a true fact and what do you think about this?

Answer 1

I think it isn't that we are naturally attracted to the same race, it is just what most societies expect of us. I was, as most kids, was brought up to "stay with our own". However, when I did find my true love (and married him) he was not my race. At first, my family did not like the idea at all, but once they acturally got to know him as a person and not a color, they loved him.

Answer 2

I wouldn't say its necessarily true. I mean society says you should stay within your own race and there won't be any problems. So pretty much everyone or a few people try to say, oh yes its most natural to be attracted to your own race first and all the time. But that is just not true. I mean I'm black and I'm attracted to a few black guys, but not at first. I always thought the nose of black males was too big as well as the mouth. I actually feel the same about my own similar features.

And I grew up in a all white neighborhood and went to all white schools with a few blacks and mexicans mixed in as well. I was more attracted to white guys first than my own race because that was what I was accustomed to. But personally I say attraction comes from physical bone structure of a man or a woman. Because there are some guys I find very sexy, because they have a lean jaw, or slanted eyes of asians. Its more to do with physical togetherness for me.

Now mind you, I guess if I had of been raised in a all black environment, maybe my perception would have changed. But I don't really think so. Race should be the last thing people should consider when thinking of attraction. Just because you are a white person or a black or whatever doesn't mean you will always be attracted to who society says you shoud be. And trust me, I'm amazed at some of the people that get together, rather they are white to white, black to black or asian to asian. Because many of those features to me aren't always so appealling on the outside. So I figure those people have to be looking for a deeper connection, like on a personality level. Which is the best form of attraction anyway. Hope this helps ya understand where I'm coming from.

Answer 3

That's an interesting question, i've never really thought of it like that. In high school i always had crushes on the guys of my same race, even married one. Not saying anything bad about my parents but i do think that was because they put a fear in me not to do otherwise. Then after my divorce about 9 yrs ago, i have only dated outside my race, because it is what i desire and am comfortable with. Now it is of interest to me that even through my high school years of the same race crushes that nearly all my friends were of a different race. Very interesting if i do say so myself. ö¿ö

Answer 4

In America, whites usually date whites, and blacks usually date blacks for a number of reasons. Being physically attracted to those that look like us is probably a factor for many people. There are also cultural taboos. Even though it is no longer illegal to date inter-racially, as it once was in some states, many people of all races, frown on others doing it.

Personally, I am an American of Mexican descent. In my life I have dated mostly women of North European descent. I have also dated women of Hispanic, Asian, and African descent. For me the determining factor is that they were all reasonably well educated.

Answer 5

I don't know if it's true but it makes sense. Everyone has different aspects of their culture. That's one reason why a lot of people don't like people dating outside of their race. It mixes cultures and can cause the loss of a particular culture. So it makes sense that someone would like someone of the same race. They could share their culture and keep it within the family. A lot of times it's hard to mix cultures. Anyways...I think we are naturally attracted to our own race because it's familar and something we can relate to culture wise.

Answer 6

This statement probably holds truth because people are attracted to people of their own kind, not just race. Often times, a person will look for qualities very similar to those of their parents, and your parents make up your race... it's a cycle. It all comes down to how you were raised.

Answer 7

Maybe at first you are attracted to people your around my first boyfriends were Italian. Then I started dating a nice guy who happened to be Black. I did not go out looking for him it just happened that way. Personally, I think you are losing out if you disqualify someone because of their race. Saying that I really hate when girls arond here date Black guys and have to talk supposedly like they are Black.

Answer 8

It depends on the perosn's personality, and how they are brought up. For more conservative cultures, then it would be true. But at the same time, if you are the only one in your own race living in the area with diferent race, you will grow towards the other race.

I think naturally, if you are brought up in that specific backgroud, then yes.

Answer 9

There's evolutionary pressure to preserve our tribe's gene pool, so its numbers can grow.

There's also evolutionary pressure to look for mates outside our gene pool, so our kids are healthy and not inbred.

And then there's just personal taste, which is what it all boils down to. If you're attracted to someone, it's a true fact.

I've generally dated outside of my own "race."

Answer 10

I think your getting bad information, everyone is attracted by different things so if given the oppurtunity you will be attracted to people you find attractive. However, if your primarily raised around people like yourself you more than likely will be attracted to those people.