Attitudes towards interracial marriages in Southern Africa

Photo: Amy of motherinthemix

June, not merely February, is definitely a month that is important commemorate love. In specific, for love that transcends inter- and outer-group obstacles. That marriage across racial lines was legal throughout the United States of America (USA), wiping laws that prohibited such marriages in certain states at the time1 on 12th June 2017 marked fifty years since the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in the Loving v. Virginia case. In Southern Africa, wedding and intimate relationships between historically defined competition teams had been likewise forbidden by the Prohibition of Mixed Marriages Act (Act No 55 of 1949) additionally the Immorality Act of 1950. These anti-miscegenation legislation had been introduced by the apartheid federal federal government and formed element of its overall policy of separateness, including bits of legislation including the populace registration and Group Areas Act. The Prohibition of Mixed Marriages Act was ultimately repealed in June 1985 – by the Immorality and Prohibition of Mixed Marriages Amendment Act – permitting inter-racial marriages and relationships2. That 12 months, Suzanne Leclerc and Protas Madlala became the couple that is first various historically defined competition teams to obtain hitched in Southern Africa following the change3.

Significantly more than three years later on, a report carried out by scientists at North-West University in Mahikeng show that the chances of and individual marrying some body associated with the race that is same by by themselves reduced from 303:1 in 1996, to 95:1 in 2011 – thus, a rise in interracial marriages in Southern Africa. The scientists attribute this to at least one) “general alterations in attitudes in culture”; and, 2) “mutual tolerance” of people from different historically defined competition teams in South Africa4.

Intergroup marriages are believed a significant way of measuring the dissolution of social and social barriers, consequently of social and social integration. Despite originating from variable backgrounds, partners in intergroup ( here interracial) marriages will likely share some typical values and aspirations. These elements are noticed become allowing of social cohesion in multicultural societies5. But, not merely the chances of interracial marriages, but also attitudes towards interracial marriages are worth addressing whenever intergroup that is considering as being a way of measuring integration.

To the end, we could utilize information through the South reconciliation that is african (SARB). Among the concerns into the SARB study asks participants whether or not they would accept, disapprove or are basic should an in depth relative of theirs marry some body from an alternate competition team. This types part of a list of concerns in terms of attitudes towards racial integration in a variety of contexts, including marriage that is interracial integration at school and integration in neighbourhoods. Among these marriage that is inter-racial regularly the smallest amount of authorized regarding the list provided from 2003-20136.

Studying the findings particularly associated with attitudes towards interracial wedding, Figure 1 below reveals that approval prices initially increased from 47% in 2003 to 53per cent this season, decreasing once more to 47per cent from 2010 to 2015. The percentage of respondents whom indicated they neither approve nor disapprove (or are neutral) increased from 21% in 2003 to 26percent in 2015; and, the percentage of participants whom suggested which they disapprove of the close relative marrying some body from another historically defined race group reduced from 29% in 2003 to 23per cent in 2015.

Figure 1: Southern Africa: Attitudes towards inter-racial wedding, 2003-2015, complete Population1

Overall, good change (albeit incremental) with regards to approval of a close general marrying an individual from another competition team has occurred – as can be observed into the decline in disapproval, plus the upsurge in basic reactions. However, much works lies ahead in tackling prejudices in this respect – in particular because of the reported greater probability of interracial marriages, while attitudes have already been slower to regulate.

For a far more in depth analysis and disaggregation of reactions with regards to historically defined competition teams, age brackets, residing Standard Measures (LSM) and milfaholic Highest degree of Education attained, please see our SARB report with this subject under magazines during July 2017.

Elnari Potgieter may be the venture Leader when it comes to Southern Africa Reconciliation Barometer at IJR

1 Wilkinson, A. 2017. Loving v. Virginia ended up being determined 50 years back, VOX, 17 June 2017. On Line:

2 South African History Online (SAHO). 2016. The Prohibition of Mixed Marriages Act commences. On Line:

3 Johnson, M. 1986. South Africa’s 1st Legal Mixed-Race few permitted to Marry, Not to call home Together, l . a . Instances, 13 July 1986. On The Web:

4 Jacobson, C.K., Amoateng, A.Y., & Heaton, T.B. 2004. Inter-racial marriages in Southern Africa, Journal of Comparative Family Studies, 35(3): 443-459.

5 Khoo, S. 2011. Integration and Multiculturalism: A Demographic Attitude. Chapter 6 in Multiculturalism and Integration: A Harmonious Relationship, Michael Clyne, James Jupp (eds). ANU Press.

6 Wale, K., Foster, D. 2015. Contact and Reconciliation, Chapter 4 in Rethinking Reconciliation: proof from Southern Africa, Lefko-Everett, K., Govender, R., Foster, D (eds). HSRC Press, Cape Town.

7 in most circumstances: “Not applicable” had been rendered “Missing”; “Strongly Disapprove” and “Disapprove” combined to form “Disapprove”. “Strongly Approve” and “Approve” combined to make ‘Approve”. “Neutral” in a few years framed as “Neither disapprove nor approve”. For decades up to 2006 issue described individuals from other teams (other to that particular regarding the respondent); from 2006 onwards participants had been first asks just just what racial group (apart from their very own) the respondent find hard to keep company with. This concerns will be followed with concerns associated with integration with regards to the mentioned group.