Abstract
Interracial Relationships in Denmark: Couples across Racial/ Ethnic Borders
Despite the increasing prevalence of mixed-race couples and their children in Denmark, the phenomenon of interracial relationships is overlooked, evident through the limited academic research, statistics, and psychosocial services. These couples’ voices are largely unheard in the Nordic context, which is often characterized by Nordic exceptionalism,’ homogeneity’, historical silencing of mixedness, and a colorblind ideology.
This chapter addresses this oversight, giving voice to these interracial couples by highlighting their experiences. It starts by delineating the Danish /Nordic conflation of race/ethnicity, presenting statistics about interracial couples, and discussing three interracial relationship philosophies: overlooking, exoticizing and celebrating. Later it delves into relevant Danish studies along with some Nordic, British, American, and Canadian. The chapter covers the couples’ lived experiences, including their responses to discriminatory experiences, primarily based on two empirical studies. These studies, Singla (2024) and Singla (2015), have a decolonial theoretical framework that combines a cultural-psychological perspective with an intersectional approach, as well the concepts of 'race work' and 'shared third'.
Lastly, the chapter presents the implications for mixed-race couples’ mental health and wellbeing, a crucial aspect entailing immediate attention. The conclusions emphasize raising awareness and addressing the phenomenon of mixed relations in psychosocial services, policy, media, and research.
Words: 198
Despite the increasing prevalence of mixed-race couples and their children in Denmark, the phenomenon of interracial relationships is overlooked, evident through the limited academic research, statistics, and psychosocial services. These couples’ voices are largely unheard in the Nordic context, which is often characterized by Nordic exceptionalism,’ homogeneity’, historical silencing of mixedness, and a colorblind ideology.
This chapter addresses this oversight, giving voice to these interracial couples by highlighting their experiences. It starts by delineating the Danish /Nordic conflation of race/ethnicity, presenting statistics about interracial couples, and discussing three interracial relationship philosophies: overlooking, exoticizing and celebrating. Later it delves into relevant Danish studies along with some Nordic, British, American, and Canadian. The chapter covers the couples’ lived experiences, including their responses to discriminatory experiences, primarily based on two empirical studies. These studies, Singla (2024) and Singla (2015), have a decolonial theoretical framework that combines a cultural-psychological perspective with an intersectional approach, as well the concepts of 'race work' and 'shared third'.
Lastly, the chapter presents the implications for mixed-race couples’ mental health and wellbeing, a crucial aspect entailing immediate attention. The conclusions emphasize raising awareness and addressing the phenomenon of mixed relations in psychosocial services, policy, media, and research.
Words: 198
| Original language | English |
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| Title of host publication | The Routledge International Handbook of Interracial and Intercultural Relationships and Mental Health : The Routledge International Handbook of Interracial and Intercultural Relationships and Mental Health |
| Editors | Dr. Roy Moodley (University of Toronto, Canada) , Dr. Kelley Kenney (DeSales University, USA, Dr. Shivon Raghunandan (Humber College, Canada) |
| Publisher | Routledge |
| Chapter | Chapter 18 |
| Publication status | Accepted/In press - 2025 |
| Series | Series: The Routledge International Handbooks series |
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