Racial Integration at the University of Johannesburg Research Proposal

Honours ResearchProject SOS 4007

2015Racial Integration at UJ

Factors that influence the

acceptance of interracial dating

Armand Schutte

201242883

Supervisor: Miss. P. Rugunanan

1.Table of Contents2. Introduction..............................................2

3. Problem Statement.........................................3

4. Literature Review.........................................5

3.1 Race and Interracial Dating............................5

3.2 Ethnicity and Family and their impact on Interracial

Dating......................................................6

3.3 Religion and Interracial Dating........................7

3.4 Educational Background and Interracial Dating..........8

3.5 Gender and Interracial Dating..........................9

3.6 Peer Group and Interracial Dating......................9

3.7 Conclusion............................................10

5. Research Question and Hypotheses.........................10

6. Research Design and Methodology..........................12

5.1 Research Method.......................................12

5.2 Population............................................12

5.3 Sample................................................13

5.4 Questionnaire construction............................13

5.5 Data collection.......................................15

5.6 Data analysis.........................................15

5.7 Ethical considerations................................15

1

7. Conclusion...............................................15

8. List of References.......................................16

2

1.Introduction

South Africa’s political history demonstrates that issues of

race, education, religion, ethnicity and gender have all had

an impact on movement towards present day racial integration.

Since becoming a democracy, a number of changes have occurred

across all fronts in order to address the racial inequalities

created by the apartheid government.

The following research project seeks to investigate the

factors that influence the acceptance of interracial dating

among undergraduate students at the University of Johannesburg

(UJ). This research project will seek to provide an indication

of what factors influence the acceptance of interracial dating

amongst UJ undergraduate students.

The motivation behind this research is based on the present

day assumption that racism is still predominantly present in

present day South Africa. This is significant because South

Africa is referred to as the ‘rainbow nation’. Like most

countries that have undergone a transition from racial

oppressive government to a democracy, a lot of hope has been

placed upon the youth who are in the majority demographically.

According to the census figures, some 21 million or 41% of the

country’s population are children under the age of 20 years,

while some 34 million or 68% of the population are under the

age of 35 years (Statistics South Africa, 2011:19). The youth

as such are a bridge between the old and new generations of

3

South Africans as they provide a guide of future social change

and are a beacon of hope for the society.

In a South African context, with very few studies of

interracial dating in existence and not interracial marriages,

this study can possibly seek to fill the gap in literature.

The gap in this area of research will be filled by conducting

research from a South African perspective and focusing on

intimate romantic interracial relationships.

2.Problem Statement

In South Africa, discrimination against interracial marriages

has been both legal and normative in nature historically. The

Prohibition Mixed Marriages Act 55 of 1949 and the Immorality

Act 23 of 1957 prohibited interracial marriages, and any

individuals who engaged in these relationships were punished.

The Immorality and Prohibition of Mixed Marriages Amendment

Act 72 of 1985 abolished these laws (Van der Merwe and Du

Plessis, 2004). Since this law came into affect statistics

have indicated that interracial relationships have increased

in South Africa, although the still remain uncommon. Even

though the annulment of the legal acts which prohibit

interracial relationships , same race relationships still

remain the unwritten norm in South Africa and interracial

4

couples still face many challenges and difficulties (Ratele

and Duncan, 2003)

Internationally research has been conducted by Johnson and

Jacobson (2004) which focused on the influence of contexts on

attitudes towards interracial relationships have done

research; Field, Kimuna and Straus (2013) compared the

attitudes of students from historically black and white

universities respectively toward interracial relationships,

Fisman, Iyengar, Kamenica and Simonson (2008) focused on

individuals’ preferences that lead to racial segregation. The

majority of these studies only focus on interracial marriages

and not interracial couples.

In South Africa, it was not until ten years after the

political transition that the first major study looking at any

interracial relationships was undertaken; I refer to the study

on interracial marriages by Jacobson, Amoateng and Heaton

(2004). A stated by Amoateng and Kalule-Sabiti (2014:626) even

though South Africa and the United States (from which majority

of the literature is from) have a similar racial relations

history and that legislation had a role on banning interracial

relationships, the literature on the subject is still

predominantly American.

The lack of data on attitudes toward interracial relationships

in South Africa could be due to the fact that, the changes in

legislation occurred more recently in South Africa than the

5

United States of America (Amoateng and Kalule-Sabiti,

2014:626). This can be that because there is a longer history

of interracial relationships in the United States of America,

this justifies the predominance of the literature in that

context.

With the transition only occurring in South Africa more

recently, it could be possible that attitudes towards

interracial relationships might not have changed a great deal

as Amoateng and Kalule-Sabiti (2014:626) have also argued. In

Conclusion Amoateng and Kalule-Sabiti (2014:626), say that it

is within this context and the massive changes that have taken

place in South African society at both the structural and

individual levels, since the political transition some two

decades ago that more systematic studies of interracial

relationships should be undertaken in South Africa

Within a South African context of which there has been very

little research conducted within the last 10 years, a study

was conducted at a major Metropolitan University in Gauteng

province. Amoateng and Kalule-Sabiti (2014) conducted this

study and found that, the secondary education setting, being

African, and having intimate interactions with people of

different racial backgrounds positively influence students’

attitudes towards interracial relationships. This study

therefore illustrates that race; social context and education

positively influence attitudes towards interracial

relationships.

6

The significance of this study is thus to provide a more

recent indication of how certain factors influence individuals

being tolerant of interracial relationships. In a country that

has undergone a transition from racial oppressive government

to a democracy, it is useful to understand how racially

tolerant individuals have become.

This project is an investigation as to whether results yielded

in previous research will be applicable in the University of

Johannesburg context. To verify this, the following research

question has been posed: “What are the factors influencing

acceptance of interracial dating among undergraduate students

at the University of Johannesburg?”

This study will focus on interracial relationships and the

factors that influence the acceptance of interracial dating

among undergraduate students at the University of

Johannesburg. It will adopt a quantitative methodology in

which questionnaires answered by undergraduate students who

attend the University of Johannesburg during the year of 2015

will be made use of, and analysed in order to determine and

describe what the factors are that influence their acceptance

of interracial dating.

3.Literature Review

7

3.1 Race and Interracial Dating

As stated by Jacobson, Amoateng and Heaton (2004:445) since

the establishment of the new government after the first

democratic elections, South Africans have become more racially

tolerant towards members of another race, in other words it

South Africans have become more open to interactions with

individuals of other races. These tolerant treatments have

arisen through mechanisms like the media, the Truth and

Reconciliation Commission, and supportive leadership. However,

social divisions along racial lines remain deeply entrenched

in society.

For example, Jacobson, Amoateng and Heaton (2004:445) found

when examining the racial attitudes of South African young

adults that the intensity of group conflict based on perceived

racial differences appears to have reduced and that all three

racial groups had slightly more tolerant racial attitudes. The

largest attitude change was present for the coloured

participants' attitudes toward whites. English speaking whites

were not as tolerant of race as their black and coloured

counterparts. Therefore, despite the vast political changes of

the past decade we can see that racism continues to be a

central feature that is present in social life.

A study conducted by Field, Kimuna and Straus (2013) in the

United States of America found that the number of interracial

couples have increased significantly. Although the numbers of

8

interracial marriages are increasing, black and white

interracial marriages remain remarkably uncommon with less

than 1% of the total.

Thus, studies conducted by Field, et al (2013) seem to yield

similar results when comparing them to South African research

that has been conducted. In both the United States of America

and South Africa, the white racial population seems be the

group least involved in interracial relationships as well as

the group that are the least tolerant of these relationships.

Johnson and Jacobson (2005:387) discuss that the acceptance of

interracial marriage has increased significantly over the past

few decades in the United States of America. The actual rates

of intergroup marriage have increased although they are

relatively low. While past research focused on interracial

marriage as a substitution for understanding race relations

and acceptance of other groups, recent studies have found that

interracial marriage still arouses an emotional response from

many whites and members of other minority communities. Other

research has found a much stronger opposition to black-white

marriage than to marriage between other groups (Johnson and

Jacobson, 2005:387).

Jaynes (2010:399) postulates that opposition to interracial

intimate relationships is a manifestation of racism.

Furthermore, rather than interracial couples being a sign of

the dissolution of racial borders, such relationships rather

9

enable us to see how these racial borders are still in

existence, and that conversely acceptance and support of these

relationships may be indicative of a stance against racism.

Furthermore, Jaynes (2010:400) states that the notion of an

intimate interracial relationship implies that the

relationship partners are devoid of racism are a problematic

notion. Finding research on racism within interracial intimate

relationships proves to be difficult. No data existed relating

to acts of racism of one intimate partner towards another.

There are also limited reports of racism within the family,

but these tend to only deal with parent-child relationships

and not that of romantic partnerships.

3.2 Ethnicity and Family and their impact on Interracial

Dating

Ethnicity refers to shared cultural practices, perspectives,

and distinctions that set apart one group of people from

another. That is, ethnicity is a shared cultural heritage. The

most common characteristics distinguishing various ethnic

groups are ancestry, a sense of history, language, religion,

and forms of dress. Ethnic differences are not inherited; they

are learned.

According to Clark-Ibanez and Felmlee (2002:294), an

individual’s friendship circle is ethnically diverse they more

likely to receive positive information from their social

10

network about a partner of another ethnicity. Furthermore,

Clark-Ibanez and Felmlee (2002:294) state a positive reaction

of friends and family network members to an individual’s

partner of another ethnicity will influence the viability of

the relationship. Clark-Ibanez and Felmlee (2002:294) state

that the family and friends networks regulate the intimate

relationships of members by setting norms, implementing

sanctions for non-normative behaviour as well as facilitating

socialisation. Clark-Ibanez and Felmlee (2002:294) state that

a positive reaction from these two networks is important as

these networks provide emotional support and practical

assistance during stressful periods and situations.

Jaynes (2010:403) says that some respondents in her study

report that it is not racism, it just has to do with their

upbringing and life experiences. That ultimately is a result

of the ideological construction of the family, that this is a

view that it is a part of their culture. It is believed that

their cultural affiliation is tied to their racial

classification.

Jaynes (2010:403-405) discusses that her interviewed

respondents stated that they all generally accepted that their

parents would be distressed if they were to date

interracially. The respondents accept that their parents would

be distressed but did not explain the reason for it.

Discourses relating to being perceived as being “bad

children”, “parental opposition” or “the risk of antagonising

11

parents” are used to legitimately justify their refraining

from interracial relationships.

3.3 Religion and Interracial Dating

Johnson and Jacobson (2005:389) state that religion can

provide a platform of contact as well as positive injunctions

about the acceptance of others. Most often religions commonly

promote acceptance of others and other groups. There are mixed

findings by researchers regarding whether religiosity is

positively or negatively associated with levels of racial

prejudice. Some still emphasise that intrinsic or personal

religiosity is associated negatively with prejudice, while

extrinsic or social religion generally is associated

positively. According to Johnson and Jacobson (2005:389), in a

recent study, individuals who attend segregated churches have

significantly more stereotypical attitudes than those

individuals who attend integrated churches. It is argued

though that the mere presence of members of other racial

groups does not necessarily lead to contact, however some may

choose not to have contact, and that the presence of large

numbers of members of other groups may actually present a

racial threat to some individuals. Nonetheless, studies have

found than it can be expected of individuals of the white

racial group in religious institutions to show greater support

for interracial marriage than other racial groups.

12

Perry (2013:1311) discusses a previous study, which analyzed

online dating ads, which reported that the white and minority

racial groups who attended church often were less willing to

date individuals of another race. Perry (2013:1311) further

discusses another study where for white individuals it was

found that a higher level of religiosity predicted a greater

aversion to interracial dating. Religious tradition has also

been connected to interracial dating (Perry, 2013:1311).

Generally, scholars have found that expressions of disapproval

of white-black interracial romance are more likely to come

from white Christians, and more specifically white

conservative Protestants. When comparing women who were raised

Protestant to women with no childhood religious affiliation,

it was found that women who were raised Protestant are less

likely to have a first sexual partner of another race that

those who were raised with no religious affiliation.

3.4 Educational Background and Interracial Dating

According to Johnson and Jacobson (2005:388), most researchers

who have looked at the effects of education on racial

attitudes have discovered a positive relationship between

education and interracial tolerance. Educational institutions

provide a platform for opportunities of increased interracial

group contact and acceptance that may not exist in other

institutions of society. As such, the attitude of approval of

this contact results stems from two factors: learning greater

tolerance and equal-status contact with members of different

13

racial groups. Data from previous research has yielded that

the approval of interracial marriage is greatest among

college-educated individuals (Johnson and Jacobson, 2005:388).

Thus, this correlation between education and racial tolerance

confirms that education is associated positively with higher

rates of acceptance of interracial marriage.

3.5 Gender and Interracial Dating

Results obtained by Fisman, Iyengar, Kameniva & Simonson

(2008:118) within their study observed a strong asymmetry

across genders in racial preferences. Women of all races

exhibited strong same-race preferences, while no men across

all races exhibited a statistically significant same-race

preference. When it came to older research subjects who appear

to be in search of serious relationships, a weaker same race

preference existed; it can be said that this gender difference

is unlikely a result of a difference in dating goals between

men and women.

According to Robnett and Felicano (2011:810) several studies

have yielded results that women are less likely to seek

interracial relationships and as such more likely to seek out

same-race partners. Collectively these studies associate this

with the prediction that women have far more criteria for

dates than that of men and as such are more likely to date

someone of the same race.

14

3.6 Peer Group and Interracial Dating

According to Clark-Ibanez and Felmlee (2004:294), an

individual’s friendship circle is ethnically diverse than an

individuals whose is not, is generally more likely to receive

positive information from their social network about a partner

of another ethnicity.

Amoateng and Kalule-Sabiti (2014:626) state that friendship

provides an opportunity of contact for people from different

racial and cultural backgrounds. Therefore, Amoateng and

Kalule-Sabiti (2014:626) state that “friendship is a critical

factor that affects interracial attitudes, motives, and the

approval of interracial dating”, interracial socializing was

found to be related to the approval of interracial marriage.

Furthermore Amoateng and Kalule-Sabiti (2014) found in their

study that having intimate interactions with people of

different racial backgrounds positively influence students

attitudes towards interracial relationships.

3.7 Conclusion

All the present literature discusses various factors that have

an influence upon an individual’s acceptance of interracial

relationships. There is a vast amount of literature available

on interracial marriages but very little focusing on

interracial relationships. Furthermore, most research has

15

focused on only black and white interracial marriages, thus

excluding the other racial categories.

Gaps in research could be largely due to that most research

conducted has been on interracial marriages and not intimate

interracial relationships of young adults, and that most of

this research has been conducted within the western world and

not within an African context. Therefore, we could say that

such studies may possibly differ greatly from those already

completed depending on the context in which they occur.

In conclusion, regarding the literature present there are

relationships between factors such as race and religion, and

the acceptance of interracial relationships. Within the

literature, there has been a racial group, which is

predominately the most opposed against interracial

relationships.

4.Research Question and Hypotheses

Research Question: What are the factors influencing acceptance

of interracial dating among undergraduate students at the

University of Johannesburg?

Hypothesis 1: There is a relationship between University of

Johannesburg undergraduate student’s race and their acceptance

of interracial dating

Independent Variable: Race

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Dependent Variable: Acceptance of interracial dating


Johannesburg undergraduate student’s ethnicity and their


Independent Variable: Ethnicity



Johannesburg undergraduate student’s family values and their


Independent Variable: Family Values



Johannesburg undergraduate student’s religion and their


Independent Variable: Religion



Johannesburg undergraduate student’s educational background

and their acceptance of interracial dating

Independent Variable: Educational Background


17


Johannesburg undergraduate student’s gender and their


Independent Variable: Gender


Hypotheses 7: There is a relationship between University of

Johannesburg undergraduate student’s peer group and their


Independent Variable: Gender


5.Research Design and Methodology

The proposed research topic will adopt a positivistic

epistemology, meaning that quantitative methodology shall be

in use. It can be said that then, to an extent, hold

objectivist ontology. This research study will be classified

as, a correlational and an explanatory study as there is a

lack of South African literature. A quantitative research

technique will be used, and a questionnaire will be used as

the standardised method of data collection.

5.1 Research Method

The purpose of this study will be to compare the influence

that differences amongst the categories of race, ethnicity,

family values, religion, educational background, gender and

18

peer group on the acceptance of interracial dating. A

quantitative method will be employed to quantify the

differences between these groups. A quantitative method of

research has been chosen, as it is best suited to test and

validate existing theories, it will therefore be useful in

either confirming or disproving information provided by the

literature review. This method of research is appropriate for

testing hypotheses and making generalisations based on a large

sample if the sample is of sufficient size and it is

representative of the population (Gravetter and Forzano,

2012:140).

5.2 Population

The population for this study will comprise of registered

undergraduate students at the University of Johannesburg,

Kingsway Campus who will be selected based on race, gender and

ethnicity in order to ensure that the sample will be

representative of University of Johannesburg undergraduate

students. Thus, the undergraduate students shall be my unit of

analysis. This study’s time dimension will be during April

2015.

5.3 Sample

As the entire population of University of Johannesburg

undergraduate students cannot be interviewed, a sample will be

19

chosen to deal with the problems of enormity and time

constraints. A sample will be selected as a method, which will

be a representative portion of the target population

(Gravetter and Forzano, 2012:140). The probability sampling

method will be used because it is possible for the exact size

of the population to be known, and all individuals within the

population have an equal chance of selection (Gravetter and

Forzano, 2012:143). Dr Batisai will be allocating all the

groups with their own sampling frames, which size will be

specific toward the needs of their research .A stratified

random sampling method will be used for this research in order

that all relevant subgroups are represented. The selected

sampling method has been chosen because, it will ensure that

the sample is representative of the population and that the

possible relevant variations can occur, and that the findings

of the research may be generalised to all University of

Johannesburg undergraduate students. As such, a stratified

random sampling method has been chosen.

5.4 Questionnaire construction

Each group of students who have the same research theme and

supervisor will compile the questionnaire with a set of

questions, which, will be coded for SPSS22 software, and

questions will be relevant to each student’s research

question. The questions will be used will be both biographical

and topical questions, some of which will consist of questions

expressed on a Likert scale.

20

Advantages of using a questionnaire include obtaining

information from a large number of respondents in a short

amount of time, conducting personal interviews at a time

convenient for respondents, and acquiring data as

inexpensively as possible, can be carried out by the

researcher or by any number of people with limited affect to

its validity and reliability. Further advantages are that the

results of the questionnaires can usually be quickly and

easily quantified by either a researcher or through the use of

a software package, can be analysed more 'scientifically' and

objectively than other forms of research. Furthermore, when

data has been quantified, it can be used to compare and

contrast other research and may be used to measure change,

positivists believe that quantitative data can be used to

create new theories and / or test existing hypotheses.

Disadvantages of using a questionnaire include volunteer bias,

interviewer bias, and distortion. Volunteer bias occurs when a

sample of volunteers is not representative of the general

population. Subjects who are willing to talk about certain

topics may answer surveys differently than those who are not

willing to talk. Interviewer bias is when an interviewer's

expectations or insignificant gestures (for example, frowning

or smiling) inadvertently influence a subject's responses one-

way or the other. Distortion occurs when a subject does not

respond to questions honestly

21

Questionnaires are argued to be inadequate to understand some

forms of information for example, changes of emotions,

behaviour, feelings. Phenomenologist’s state that quantitative

research is simply an artificial creation by the researcher,

as it is asking only a limited amount of information without

explanation, they lack validity, there is no way to tell how

truthful a respondent is being, there is no way of telling how

much thought a respondent has put in.

The respondent may be forgetful or not thinking within the

full context of the situation, people may read differently

into each question and therefore reply based on their own

interpretation of the question - i.e. what is 'good' to

someone may be 'poor' to someone else, therefore there is a

level of subjectivity that is not acknowledged.

There is a level of researcher imposition, meaning that when

developing the questionnaire, the researcher is making their

own decisions and assumptions as to what is and is not

important therefore they may be missing something that is of

importance. The process of coding in the case of open-ended

questions opens a great possibility of subjectivity by the

researcher.

5.5 Data collection

22

For the purpose of this study, both primary and secondary

sources of data will be used. The primary data in the form of

the results which the questionnaires will produce, and the

secondary data in the form of the literature review.

5.6 Data analysis

The data from the questionnaires will be analysed and

interpreted by using the statistical programme SPSS22, and

tables and charts will be created to represent the data.

5.7 Ethical considerations

Ethics form an integral part of social research. Therefore, it

is advisable to consider ethics when conducting social

research. For the purpose of this study, it will be stated

that participation in the research project will be voluntary

and that it will not commence without the informed consent

from the participants. All the information provided from the

participants will be treated as confidential, and there will

be complete anonymity for all participants because if needed

pseudonyms will be used. Participants will be free to

terminate their involvement in the research at anytime. All

data within this study will not be adjusted or changed in any

manner. Participants will be able to access the results of the

study after it has been completed.

6.Conclusion23

In conclusion, various factors could influence the occurrence

as well as acceptance of interracial dating. That ethnicity,

race, religion, educational background, family values and

gender all influence whether an individual will date

interracially. This study will be quantitative in nature and

will focus on Undergraduate Students at the University of

Johannesburg. Questionnaires will be the instrument used to

collect data to either prove or disprove hypotheses.

24

7.List of References

Amoateng, AY and Kalule-Sabiti, I. 2014. ‘Social Context

Factors and Attitudes toward Interracial Relationships on a

South African University Campus’. Suppl on Population Issues in South

Africa, 28(1): 623-635.

Clark-Ibanez, M and Felmlee, D 2004. ‘Interethnic

Relationships: The Role of Social Network Diversity’. Journal of

Marriage and Family, 66(2): 293:305.

Field, CJ, Kimuna, SR and Straus, MA. 2013. ‘Attitudes Toward

Interracial Relationships Among College Students: Race, Class,

Gender, and Perceptions of Parental Views’. Journal of Black Studies,

44(7): 741-776.

Fisman, R, Iyengar, SS, Kamenica, E and Simonson, I. 2008.

‘Racial Preferences in Dating’. The Review of Economic Studies,

75(1): 117-132.

Gravetter, FJ and Forzano, LB. 2012. Research Methods for the

Behavioural Sciences. New York: Wadsworth.

Jackson, PB, Kleiner, S, Geist, C and Cebulko, C. 2011.

‘Conventions of Courtship: Gender and Race Differences in the

Significance of Dating Rituals’. Journal of Family Issues, 32(5): 629–

652.

25

Jacobson, CK, Amoateng, AY and Heaton, TB. 2004. ‘Interracial

Marriages in South Africa’. Journal of Comparative Family Studies,

35(3): 443-458.

Jaynes, C. 2010. ‘The Influence of The Family on Interracial

Intimate Relationships in Post-Apartheid South Africa’. South

African Journal of Psychology, 40(4): 396-413.

Johnson, B.R and Jacobson, C.K. 2005. ‘Contact in Context: An

Examination of Social Settings on Whites' Attitudes Toward

Interracial Marriage. Social Psychology Quarterly, 68(4): 387-399.

Perry, S. 2013. ‘Religion and Interracial Romance: The Effects of

Religious Affiliation, Public and Devotional Practices, and

Biblical Literalism’. Social Science Quarterly, 95(5): 1308-1327.

Ratele, K and Duncan, N. 2003. Social psychology: Identities and

relationships. Cape Town: University of Cape Town Press.

Robnett, B and Feliciano, C. 2011. ‘Patterns of Racial-Ethnic

Exclusion by Internet Daters’. Social Forces, 89(3): 807-828.

Statistics South Africa. 2012. Census 2011. Accessed 10 March

2015.

http://www.statssa.gov.za/publications/p03014/p030142011.pdf.

Van der Merwe, CG and Du Plessis, J. 2004. Introduction to the Law of

South Africa. Bedfordshire: Kluwer Law International.

26

http://www.statssa.gov.za/publications/p03014/p030142011.pdf

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Racial Integration at the University of Johannesburg Research Proposal

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