Let's Talk About Race...

Hello, when it comes to interracial couples and multiracial families how much does racism impact their daily lives? According to the article written by Killian (2020), Caucasian men married to Black women were perceived as significantly less competent and less likely to be professionally successful than were those married to Caucasian women. And, Black men married to Caucasian women were perceived as less competent, less traditional, as having a weaker racial identity, and as less comfortable with same-race others than were those married to Black women. Contrary to popular belief, dating outside one's race does not alway signify empowerment and emancipation. Factors such as privilege and power can affect their partner's ability to understand everyday situations and reacting in oblivion and/or silence to their partner's experience can have a negative impact on their sense of connection and intimacy (Killian, 2020). In a field with limited research, how can therapists avoid feeling uncomfortable about talking about race? Killian (2020), states therapists and partners in interracial couples must be willing to challenge the insignificance of history, discourses of homogamy, hypersensitivity of partners of color, and the belief that race is not to be talked about in order to breakthrough the silence that it just does not exist. Therefore, the role of the therapist is to help the couple acknowledge how much energy is spent in suppressing their identities by suppressing their histories. The goal is to work through those barriers to help the couple reshape their identity that is more inclusive of their histories which will reshape who they are collectively as a couple. In addition to removing barriers to treatment, it is equally important for therapists to work through their own biases and stereotypes about interracial and multiracial couples. I know as professionals we tend to ignore the belief that our own beliefs about certain subjects can cloud our ability to remain subjective and can influence our thoughts, behaviors, and our attitudes in session. When it comes to race it is important to listen and to help the couple and/or family understand unfamiliar experiences and concerns in environment that does not mimic what they experience on a daily basis. 

References:

Killian, K.D. (2020). Breaking the codes of silence: Interracial couples in therapy. Family Therapy Magazine. July/August. pp. 26-30.