TL;DR: Take the time to learn about their traditions, cuisine, music, etc.; ask them to tell stories from their childhood and about family or cultural customs; share your own stories; attend cultural festivals; travel to their native country or take them to yours when possible.
The average person is open to dating someone with a different cultural background, but what does it really entail? Research shows there are cultural differences in terms of the age and developmental timing when young people enter romantic relationships, as well as their views on sexual behavior and other romantic interactions. Youth from Western cultures appear to start relationships earlier in their development and have less conservative views on sex-related matters compared to their non-Western counterparts.
Be open-minded and demonstrate genuine interest
Overcoming cultural differences starts with open-minded curiosity and genuine interest. Successful cross-cultural dating involves taking the time to learn about their traditions, holidays, cuisine, or music and stories from their childhood and upbringing. Ask questions about their experiences, family or cultural customs, and the values that shaped them. Despite coming from different cultural backgrounds, you might share values and interests. According to a 2024 survey, 61% of dating app users mainly used apps to connect with individuals who share similar interests, and almost half (44%) were seeking people with matching values and beliefs.
Cooking a traditional dish or attending a cultural festival can deepen emotional bonds and show respect for each other’s backgrounds. This shared learning brings you closer and fosters empathy and appreciation. Sharing your cultural roots may even allow your partner to understand you on a deeper level.
Introduce them to any practices, beliefs, or memories that are meaningful to you. As they gain insight, there arises an opportunity to connect and break down biases or assumptions.
The fascination of world cultures
Customs differ across the world. The Japanese are very serious about enforcing a no-tipping policy. Scandinavian people often leave small children to nap outside, even in colder weather, because they believe fresh air is good for you. In some Eastern European countries, you treat your friends to things on your birthday instead of vice versa.
In Middle Eastern culture, complimenting someone about something may lead to them offering that thing to you. When someone celebrates a birthday in the Netherlands, the guests at the party congratulate everyone present, not just the host.
The facets of openness to experience
Those who score highest in the trait “Openness to Experience” are most accepting of intercultural and interracial relationships. This Big Five personality trait has six dimensions: attentiveness to inner feelings, aesthetic sensitivity, fantasy, intellectual curiosity, adventurousness, and the propensity to challenge authority. Psychometric research has demonstrated significant correlations between these dimensions. Distribution of openness tends to be normal, meaning that most people score moderately and a small number score extremely low or high on it. This is reflected in the results of a survey reported by Statista, in which 39% of participants wanted TV shows to feature more interracial couples.
People who are closed to experience tend to score low on openness. They tend to be traditional in their behavior and outlook, preferring familiar routines to novel experiences. Openness has moderate positive correlations with intelligence, creativity, and knowledge.
Final thoughts
The challenges associated with intercultural dating will likely diminish with time. The exposure level to other cultures is key: a survey found that 92% of the respondents who had been in romantic intercultural relationships were willing to repeat the experience. Younger men who had attended interracial schools or lived in interracial neighborhoods were likelier to date interculturally. Intercultural dating happens most often at universities, and the rising number of minorities enrolling in universities is a factor in its rise.
At the same time, we still have some way to go. Research demonstrates an increased prevalence of dating aggression reported by young people in cultures where adolescent marriage is common or who are members of cultural minority groups.
