Surviving Jungle Fever: An Exploration of Interracial Couples Strategies for Combating Racism

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Surviving Jungle Fever An Exploration of
Interracial Couples Strategies for Combating
Racism

• Reginald K. Riggins
• Jackson State University
• SROP 2006
• Kerry Ann Rockquemore, Ph.D.
• University of Illinois at Chicago

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RESEARCH QUESTIONS

• What strategies do interracial couples use to
  confront or avoid prejudice in order to preserve
  their relationship?
• Are some strategies used more often than others?
• Are there gender differences among the use of
  strategies?

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THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

• Hill and Volker (2000)
• -Generating
• -Blocking
• -Transforming
• Expanding their research
• -Larger sample
• -Using men
• -Looking for gender differences
• and new strategies

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METHODOLOGY

• An inductive method
• Snowball sampling technique
• 30 individuals in black/white relationships
• Coded for four strategies
• In-depth structured interviews
• Content analysis

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FINDINGS

• GENERATING STRATEGY
• Choosing to surround yourself with other
  interracial couples or non-racist people
• 77-Use generating
• 52-Women
• 48-Men

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BLOCKING STRATEGY

• Verbal Confrontation
• Discrediting
• Screening
• 50-Use blocking
• 60-Women
• 40-Men

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TRANSFORMING STRATEGY

• Not disclosing your partners racial identity
  from family and friends
• Monitoring self presentation to negate
  stereotypes
• 10-Use transforming
• 66.6-Women
• 33.3-Men

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New Strategy Avoidance

• Keeping the interracial relationship a secret
• Disassociation from your partner
• 13-Use Avoidance
• 75-Women
• 25-Men

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DISCUSSION

• Limitations
• Framework does hold up with larger sample
• Strategies do exist but are used selectively
• Women use each strategy more so than men
• Future research