Race and sexuality

Concepts of race and sexuality have interacted in various ways in different historical contexts. While partially based on physical similarities within groups, race is understood by scientists to be a social construct rather than a biological reality. Human sexuality involves biological, erotic, physical, emotional, social, or spiritual feelings and behaviors.

United States law has a complex history regarding race and sexuality. In the 1800s, resistance to mixing between blacks and whites led to the passage of laws banning their intermarriage. At the same time, a fear of Asian women's sexual appeal led to the complete ban of Chinese women from migrating to the United States, as it was believed that they would seduce married White men.

Studies of online dating and physical attractiveness have indicated that race may be "gendered", as it was repeatedly found that East and Southeast Asian women were considered more attractive than other groups of women. Gendered racial stereotypes exist within the LGBT community, which have been described as both alienating and empowering.

Race has historically been a factor in sexual fetishism, with the Asian fetish, a preference for women of Asian descent, and the fetishization of Black men being prominent examples.