1st Edition

Intercultural Couples Exploring Diversity in Intimate Relationships

Edited By Terri A. Karis, Kyle D. Killian Copyright 2009
    288 Pages
    by Routledge

    288 Pages
    by Routledge

    While cross-cultural relations were once assumed to be inherently problematic, in recent years these couples have increased in both numbers and social acceptance, and there is now a growing awareness of how little we really know about them. Addressing this gap in our knowledge, this book presents 12 chapters focusing on cross-cultural couple formations (i.e., a partner from the U.S. and another from abroad). Highlighting both the struggles and successes of couples, this book challenges the principle of homogamy, helping the reader gain a deeper understanding and respect for intercultural couples. The chapters tackle a broad range of topics and issues, including systemic considerations of the phenomenon of cross-cultural couples, bilingual couples, interfaith relationships, struggles in such couple formations, different methods of approaching solutions, and the use of the internet to meet partners from diverse backgrounds.

    Acknowledgments. Contributors. Killian, Introduction. Theoretical Frameworks for Understanding Intercultural Couples. Rosenblatt, A Systems Theory Analysis of Intercultural Couple Relationships. Leeds-Horwitz, Ambiguity as a Solution to the "Problem" of Intercultural Weddings. Ting-Toomey, A Mindful Approach to Managing Conflict in Intercultural Intimate Couples. Examining Prevalent Assumptions about Intercultural Relationships. Piller, "I Always Wanted to Marry a Cowboy": Bilingual Couples, Language, and Desire. Grearson, Smith, The Luckiest Girls in the World. Karis, "We're Just a Couple of People": An Exploration of Why Some Black-White Couples Reject the Terms Cross-Cultrual and Interracial. Agathangelou, Killian, Electronic Attachments: Desire, the Other, and the Internet Marital Trade in the 21st Century. Particular Cultural Combinations. Visson, Russian-American Marriages: Cultures and Conflicts. Llerena-Quinn, Bacigalupe, Constructions of Difference Among Latino/Latina Immigrant and Non-Hispanic White Couples. Rastogi, Asian Indians in Intercultural Marriages: Intersections of Acuclturation, Gender, and Exogamy. Daneshpour, Bridges Crossed, Paths Traveled: Muslim Intercultural Couples. Gaines, Ramkissoon, U.S./Carribean Couples: Perspectives from Caribbean Psychology and Mainstream Social Psychology.

    Biography

    Terri A. Karis, Kyle D. Killian

    "This is a book that is likely to be of interest to a potentially broad range of readers. It reads at some points like a self-help guide for mixed couples when it offers therapeutic proscriptions. At other points, it is packed with academic descriptive terminology and is likely to be appealing to specialists with narrowly defined interests. Thus, there may be a few chapters in the volume that would provide useful supplementary reading for a graduate-level course on cross-cultural psychology or interpersonal relationships." - Kellina M. Craig-Henderson, PsycheCRITIQUES

    "This book stood out to me because of the breadth of information that was presented. [It] does not shy away from saying that being in an intercultural couple is not tough, however, it points out that these challenges can be overcome with a little more work on a daily basis and a willingness to learn and be open to new experiences. This book aims to provide a deeper understanding of cross cultural couples and does so in a way that appeals to clinicians who might want an introduction to the area of intercultural couples. In addition, this book is written in a way that the general public would understand its concepts." - Cynthia Dsauza, Journal of Couple & Relationship Therapy