When scrolling through social media and encountering a couple consisting of an Asian woman and a white man, it’s almost inevitable that someone will reference the supposed “Oxford study” in the comments. More often than not, these remarks come from jealous Asian men, expressing frustration over the perception that white men are “taking their women.”

The “Oxford study” refers to an Oxford University Press article that analyzes interracial relationships between Asian women and white men. While the article originally focused on the portrayal and typecasting of Asian women in advertisements and the entertainment industry, many have misinterpreted and applied its findings to real-life situations.

According to a 2015 study by the Pew Research Center, among the 15% of Asian and white intermarried couples, 11% consisted of white men and Asian women, while only 4% were between white women and Asian men.

Even though this data seems to support the trend, it doesn’t capture the complexities behind individual relationships, which are influenced by  personal, social and cultural factors rather than simplistic generalizations. It is clear that The Oxford study undermines Asian women by portraying them as objectified victims of white men, rather than individuals making their choices in their own relationships based on personal preference and agency.

The legacy of Western colonialism could explain why these relationships often carry a negative connotation. During the colonial period, many Asian countries were under European or American control, which cultivated a lasting power imbalance. The concept of white men as dominant figures and frequent objectification and sexualization of Asian women became deeply ingrained in Western culture. As a result, interracial relationships involving Asian women and white men were often viewed through the lens of this racial hierarchy, reinforcing the idea that the relationships were the result of white men’s power and control.

The reception of this phenomenon by Asian men highlights the pressure to “date within race” and the feeling that white men are “taking their women.” Many Asian men experience a sense of loss, seeing interracial relationships as a competition they can’t win, often due to stereotypes that render them less desirable. A TikTok video where an Asian man says, “we lost another one,” captures this frustration and demeans Asian women by reducing them to possessions able to be lost or won.

However, Asian women are challenging these narratives by embracing their choices in partners without shame or guilt. By reclaiming the phrase “Oxford study”, they are empowering themselves to choose love on their own terms, free from any societal pressures and judgments.