A different race, yes- I have dated women of a variety of races.
A drastically different culture (regardless of race), probably not.
This. Though some forum members I could name would probably struggle to believe it, there are actually a number of African American women at my current job who I probably wouldn't mind dating if I were ever given the opportunity.
What do they have in common (besides physical features which I find physically appealing)? None of them dress, act, or talk in a manner which might be considered to be stereotypically "black" as American culture defines the term.
They're basically like any other girl. :shrug:
Frankly, I found the same thing in the military, where enforced uniformity basically
required that women of all races dress and act in a more professional and traditionally "conservative" fashion regardless of whether they
wanted to do so or not.
I suspect this preference has far more to do with indicators associated with social class than anything having to do with race. "Black culture" and its various trappings tend to be associated with poverty, crass behavior, and lack of education more than anything else. As someone born and raised in the Middle Classes, to a well educated and even "intellectual" family, that simply strikes me as being singularly unattractive.
When and if a woman of any given race rises above that, however, skin color is usually a non-issue.
Ironically, I'm actually having kind of the opposite issue with one of the white women I work with. She's attractive enough, but she definitely comes from something of a "rough" background, which is reflected in the way she lives, and I find that to be a turn off.
So many factors enter into the equation, that it's difficult enough to find one person among thousands in the first place. It may just be that my standards are way too high, but even with those standards, I've met men of different cultures and skin colors throughout my adult lifetime that I found very appealing. I suspect it may be easier for women, than it is for some men, as men seem to often be much more visually stimulated, and more women seem to respond to emotional and intellectual stimuli more readily. And maybe I'm just talking out my ass, and don't have a clue, but that's the way it seems to me.
I've
certainly got higher standards than most men I know. That much is basically beyond question. :lol:
While it's not something that's strictly physical, in my case, that certainly does play a role; especially where inter-racial relationships are concerned. There are certain "ethnic" features and body types in which I simply have no sexual interest.
More heavy set or masculine seeming black women, for instance, or Latina women who are short and squat to the point where they basically seem neckless, are simply completely off my radar under most circumstances.
However, even then I wouldn't say that physical attractiveness is the end all and be all of it. It's simply what draws most men's attention in the first place.
Honestly, I'd probably
much rather be with a "cute" 7 1/2 with a great personality than a glam model 10 with the personality of a tree stump. :lol:
It just seems to be a way of calling out people
