LOVE KNOWS NO BOUNDARIES: EXPLORING THE CHALLENGES IN INTERRACIAL MARRIAGES AMONG SARAWAKIAN WOMEN
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UNIVERSITI MALAYSIA SARAWAK
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While it is a common occurrence, interracial marriages in Malaysia are still seen as taboo in Malaysian society. People in mixed-race marriages have distinct issues that may differ from those in a same-race partnership. This research study aimed to address the specific challenges women in interracial marriages go through, their coping strategies in handling those issues, and their expectations and hopes for the future regarding interracial marriages, focusing on the lived experiences of Sarawakian women. A qualitative research method was utilised, with semi-structured interviews conducted for 8 Sarawakian women in an interracial marriage. The data collected were then analysed using Thematic Analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2006). Among the challenges faced by these women were: cultural differences, lack of support in their marriage, religious differences, and experiences of being the wife. Meanwhile, the coping strategies typically employed by these women were communication, distractions and incorporating both spouses’ cultures. These findings were able to raise awareness of the unique challenges women in interracial marriages go through as well as highlighting the type of support needed. It is recommended that future researchers conduct more studies on the experiences of other demographics throughout Malaysia for generalizability, and to employ mixed methods of research to gauge participants’ level of psychological wellbeing as well as their personal experiences being in mixed-race marriages.