History
Mixed marriages have taken place since the beginning of time. As people explored and traveled, men would fall in love with local women and either stay or take the women back home with them. Marriages of mixed religions, races or cultures have traditionally met with resistance by either party's family or friends, or by society in general.

Interracial marriages were illegal in the United States in some states until 1967. Couples were prosecuted and sentenced to jail for marrying other races, as noted in the infamous court case Loving vs. the State of Virginia. This couple consisted of a white man and a black woman who were forced to leave their Virginia home or go to jail. They left until they won their case in the Supreme Court.

Types
When the term "mixed marriage" is used in the United States, it's often associated with interracial marriages, particularly of black and white couples. However, the term also defines the union of two people from different religious faiths or different nationalities.

The problems of mixed marriages include resistance from family, friends and society, as well as individual ideas and expectations within the relationship. Family members may feel as though the person isn't embracing his culture or religion. They may not understand the other person's culture. Some family members may disown the person altogether. Fathers have commonly disowned their daughters for marrying outside their race or religion.

Friends may have the same issues as family members, and may react by ending the friendship or degrading their friend or her new spouse.

Society may be cruel to the couple. Mean, ignorant comments, dirty looks, discrimination and sometimes physical assaults may be perpetrated by strangers who do not understand or approve of mixed marriages.

Geography
Couples who choose to enter into a mixed marriage are not immune from problems anywhere. Although some places, such as large cities in the United States, are generally