HILLSBOROUGH, N.C. – Seventy percent of women and 58 percent of men believe interracial relationships carry a stigma, according to a recent survey conducted by adult retailer, distributor and content producer Adam & Eve.

Nevertheless, 79 percent of survey respondents said they were open to dating outside their race. Of those polled, 42 percent overall (48 percent of men; 39 percent of women) said they already have.

“In this day and age, you would think that inter-ethnic relationships would be no big deal,” said licensed marriage and family therapist Dr. Kat Van Kirk, who serves as Adam & Eve’s resident sexologist. “However, there are still people that segregate themselves when it comes to dating and relationships.

“Who we are attracted to and what turns us on shouldn’t be limited by skin color,” Van Kirk continued. “Being able to explore and respond to many types of people can help us understand our world and relate to one another.”

Image © Daniel West.