Mixed Intimacies in Postcolonial Europe

This book explores mixedness and mixed relationships in postcolonial Europe, highlighting how individuals navigate systemic inequalities, societal norms, and politics of belonging

Offering detailed accounts of mixed relationships, this open access book explores how partners navigate and reshape their relations, identities, and social expectations in contemporary Europe.

Using 'mixedness' as a context-dependent concept, this volume moves beyond traditional and binary understandings of 'interracial' or 'interfaith' couples, examining how 'mixedness' is lived and experienced within postcolonial, social, and legal frameworks. Chapters also explore how individuals in mixed relations occupy complex social positions based on different forms and grammars of difference.

Addressing a range of themes, including the impact of history and colonial legacies on present-day experiences of mixedness in Europe, this book explores the role of law in the regulation of mixedness, gender dynamics amongst mixed couples, and configurations of race, religion and ethnicity. It additionally brings forward the ways in which individuals in mixed relations navigate societal prejudices and norms, construct perceptions on formations of mixedness, as well as strategies for dealing with differences. Bringing together research from diverse disciplines such as anthropology, history, law, religious studies, and gender studies, this volume provides multifaceted perspectives on the challenges and opportunities faced in and mixed relationships.

The ebook editions of this book are available open access under a CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 licence on bloomsburycollections.com. Open access was funded by the Dutch Research Council (NWO).