Abstract This study considers the interplay of race, religion, and politics in bolstering racial boundaries in American family life. Research consistently finds “Christian nationalism” (a set of beliefs about America’s Christian foundations and the need to preserve those foundations), particularly among White Americans, is associated with ethnocentrism and preserving racial boundaries in multiple domains, including marriage and parenting. Likewise, the contemporary Republican project involves preserving certain social orders, including Christian supremacy, racial boundaries, and “traditional” families. I theorize these three dynamics—Whiteness, Christian nationalism, and Republican partisanship—combine to bolster support for racial boundaries in marriage. Focusing on Americans’ views toward marriage with White, Black, Hispanic, and Asian Americans in the 2021 General Social Survey, analyses reveal Christian nationalism is indeed among the strongest predictors that White (but not Black or Hispanic) Americans show a relative preference for same-race marriage partners. Interactions affirm the association between Christian nationalism and White Americans’ preference for same-race marriage partners is limited to White Republicans, and indeed, is most pronounced among Strong Republicans. My finding that Christian nationalism and Republican partisanship together bolster White Americans’ preference for same-race marriage has implications for understanding how contemporary Republican “pro-family” goals may bolster White supremacy and racial division.
Samuel L. Perry (Tue,) studied this question.