Doobie Doo
Veteran
This yahoo articles. 
The picturesWhy Interracial and Interethnic Dating Is The Best
Emy Rodriguez Flores
RedbookMarch 11, 2020
View photos
Photo credit: Flashpop - Getty Images
As a cisgendered hispanic man from Puerto Rico, my experiences dating have always contained components from interracial or interethnic spaces. Even dating a fellow Puerto Rican can have ethnic differences depending where they or myself come from. Dating into different races and ethnicities has always been something I believe in not only for personal growth, but to help break down stereotypes and associations out there. Here are the reasons why interracial and interethnic dating are the best. Besides, who wants to date someone that looks like them?!
You Learn How To Be More Empathetic
Often times, we don't have the concepts of race or culture at the top of our thoughts and it's easy to forget what privileges we navigate the world with. When you're dating someone from a different race, you're able to see the difference in privileges in real-time and can have a better understanding. Instead of reading about someone who has experienced a form of racism on the news, when it happens to our partner, it hits home and can help us empathize on a whole new level. It lessens our own individual fragilities and lets us look at the world through our partners eyes. It won't make you understand what your partner goes through on a daily basis as if you were living in their shoes, but it will help you understand and (hopefully) learn to be more sensitive.
View photos
Photo credit: Flashpop - Getty Images
You Expose Yourself To The Great Things About Differences
Dating interracially is a great way to learn about a new culture, place or society. It can even help your friends and family with teachable moments too. When you take an interest in someone, their culture usually can come second and it's a great opportunity to learn about a new cuisine, tradition or art. You can even take things further and plan trips together to each others motherland. Accepting your differences and valuing them as something special can make dating interracially fun and not race vs. race or culture vs. culture.
You Break Stereotypes
We've all heard them before. Stereotypes and labels have more to do with sex than they do about actual relationships so why allow them to influence who you choose to date or not? By willingly entering someone else's space without any prejudices or fetishization, you break stereotypes that society built. Yes, sex can be a big component in your relationship, but when you weaponize it and let it determine who enters your life, you lose all sense of individuality.
You Realize We're Not All That Different
If you take a close look, you'll realize that we're actually a lot more similar than you would think. Our shared beliefs, similarities in cultural traditions and other shared aspects of life are only discoverable when you make an effort in getting to know someone that is different. If you allow yourself to be overwhelmed with differences, it keeps you in the dark with missed potential matches flying by.
View photos
Photo credit: Flashpop - Getty Images
You Show The World That It's O.K.
You Don't Let Societal Racism Win
Dating interracially is different than dating someone from the same race as yourself. There's no getting around it, interracial couples don't have the same experiences in the world. You might get looks, comments and even slurs, but the important thing is that you don't let that enter your relationship. Never let outside influences dictate who you love...whether it's someone of a different color, culture, identity or the same sex.
Yahoo is now a part of Verizon Media
