The Experiences of Asian Americans Who Intermarry in the United States: A Qualitative Study

Abstract

Intermarriage is noted to be a difficult adjustment as culture, language, and family expectations can clash. Given the rising intermarried population and the challenges they may face, social workers need an up-to-date understanding of these couples’ experiences to better provide services. Surveys and interviews with 11 Asian women and 2 Asian men who intermarried were conducted from 2020 to 2021. Using grounded theory coding, each author on our biracial (Asian and white) team read interviews and identified themes. We identified five themes from the data: Societal Press, White Privilege, Family Relations, Communication, and Parental Responsibilities. Social work practitioners may employ these results in providing culturally sensitive strength-based services for interracial families.