Race and romance in Singapore: investigating the lived experiences of Singaporeans in interracial intimacies

• Main Author: Mohammad Hazim Zulfadhli Rohadi
• Other Authors: Teo You Yenn
• Format: Thesis-Master by Research
• Language: English
• Published: Nanyang Technological University 2022
• Subjects: Social sciences::Sociology
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/10356/156320
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

The number of Singaporeans who enter into inter-ethnic unions have undergone a consistent increase over the past decades, highlighting a growing demographic. Previous research rarely investigated the lived experiences of these individuals and garnered little insight into the nuances present in their relationships. By using semi-structured in-depth interviews, this paper investigates the lived experiences of individuals in interracial intimacies to highlight three key thematic concerns present in their relationships. Firstly, I establish how the social networks of an individual often have a significant impact on the success and nature of their relationship, particularly if those sentiments come from the family unit. Next, I investigate the ways that these individuals learn to deal with problems within their relationship where race is perceived as a contentious issue. Finally, I explore how these individuals talk about the kinds of racism that they may experience, coming from the positionality of being in an interracial relationship. The data garnered from this research shows the significance of interracial intimacies as sites of investigation and highlights the complex issues and problems that individuals in interracial unions often deal with. This study hopes to contribute to the wider literature surrounding interracial intimacies by establishing the theoretical link between public narratives of race and romance and how those perceptions and attitudes can often find themselves inextricably linked to private romantic relationships.