Negotiating the challenges of an interracial marriage: An interpretive phenomenological analysis of the perception of diaspora Indian partners

• Published date: 01 February 2024
• Author: Shaji Daniel
• Date: 01 February 2024
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1111/fare.12888

RESEARCH

Negotiating the challenges of an interracial marriage:

An interpretive phenomenological analysis of the

perception of diaspora Indian partners

Shaji Daniel

Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Colorado

Christian University, Lakewood, CO

Correspondence

Shaji Daniel, 7070 Knights Ct., Unit 703,

Missouri City, Texas 77459, USA.

Email: sdaniel@ga.ccu.edu

Abstract

Objective: This interpretive phenomenological analysis

study aimed to explore the marriage experience of diaspora

Indians who chose to marry a non-Indian partner and to fill

in the literature gap toinform the counseling practices.

Background: Diaspora Indians have the lowest level of inter-

racial marriage of any immigrant group living in the

United States at about 20%. The resistance to marrying

someone of another culture and insufficient empirical

research in the field makes it difficult for counselors to adjust

counseling services when dealing with diaspora Indian inter-

racial couples.

Method: Using interpretivism and phenomenology as the

philosophical ground for the research, the researcher

explored the subjective experiences of interracial marriage

among diaspora Indians through in-depth interviews,

which were transcribed and analyzed using coding and the-

matic analysis.

Results: The results illustrate those cultural issues, based

on the differences between the collectivist nature of the

Indian American community and the individualist

American culture, caused considerable stress on interracial

marriage and were the major driver of therapeutic inter-

vention for the interracial couple.

Conclusion: The study identified various coping mecha-

nisms that could potentially reduce marital stress among

diaspora Indians engaged in interracial marriage. Findings

indicate that the cultural perspective should be at the core

of counseling services rendered to interracial couples.

Implications: Multicultural competence and cultural

humility are essential for helping practitioners to under-

stand nuances related to interracial marriage, especially

those joining the collectivist diaspora Indian culture with

that of more individualistic races and ethnicities in the

Received: 1 March 2022Revised: 22 February 2023Accepted: 1 April 2023

DOI: 10.1111/fare.12888

© 2023 National Council on Family Relations.

282 Family Relations. 2024;73:282–297.wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/fare

United States. Future studies in the field may use longitu-

dinal research for observing the evolution of interracial

couples while managing their cultural differences and

other marital issues.

KEYWORDS

diaspora Indians, family therapy and counseling, interracial marriage,

phenomenology

Given the increasing pace of population growth among ethnic minority people in the

United States, interracial encounters in society are on the rise. The literature on migration

regards interracial marriage as a critical part of the complex assimilation and acculturation

process undergone by immigrants in a host society (Hirschman, 2013). In this context, inter-

racial marriage promotes and facilitates social cohesion (Rodriguez-Garcia, 2015). It is a form

of social connection between two racial groups to share their culture, values, beliefs, and

traditions.

The Indian American situation is unique among immigrant groups. Diaspora Indians are

the third-largest population of immigrants in the United States, characterized by high accultura-

tion and assimilation, especially in terms of education and employment (Ruiz, 2018). However,

in the area of romantic relationships and marriage, diaspora Indians demonstrate a continued

preference for in-group partners. Only about 20% of Indian Americans have a spouse or partner

that is not of Indian origin. Those relationships are prone to challenges that may require thera-

peutic intervention to resolve.

Diaspora Indians represent a collectivist culture in individualist America, challenging their

assimilation and full integration into society. According to prior evidence, members of collectiv-

ist cultures tend to have in-group existence and depend heavily on family and community views

and expectations (Bejanyan et al., 2015). In contrast, representatives of individualist cultures

express more autonomy and require personal space (Sue & Sue, 2016).

The purpose of this preliminary descriptive study of the target population is to produce an

understanding of the barriers and difficulties diaspora Indians face when choosing an out-group

spouse and how those challenges may be addressed by the partners or in a therapeutic setting.

There is little research on this topic. There is also little research addressing interracial marriage,

where one of the partners is a diaspora Indian. The extant studies stress the fundamental differ-

ences between the collectivist Indian culture and the individualist culture of the United States.

The former pursues the collective good and prioritizes in-group beliefs and aspirations

(Kwantes & Glazer, 2017). The latter is driven by self-actualization, individual interests,

achievements, and personal qualities (Rodrigues et al., 2017).

Interracial marriages involving encounters between collectivist and individualist cultures,

such as those involving one diaspora Indian partner, are prone to communication problems,

misunderstanding, and conflict (Wilczewski et al., 2017), which might require the intervention

of a therapist or counselor. Inman et al. (2011) explored the interracial marriage experiences of

Indian American–White couples, noting the critical impact of the difference in cultural values

and beliefs on marital satisfaction and continuity. Qian and Shah (2015) and Sharda (1990)

suggested that diaspora Indians experienced pressure from their parents and broader families to

maintain their cultural connectedness, national identity, and heritage, which influenced their

marital choices.

The identified literature gap reflects and is reflected by the lack of attention counselors

often pay to the collectivist orientation and culturally defined family expectations faced by

the Indian American partner in an interracial marriage (Chandras et al., 2013). As a result,

mental health practitioners may not be able to understand that individual’s marital

NEGOTIATING THE CHALLENGES283