Politics is constantly debated between friends and foes alike every day, and political differences are sometimes powerful enough to end entire friendships. So, is it possible to have a more intimate relationship with someone that has different political views than one’s own? The following students are in relationships with those who have differing political beliefs from their own.
“Usually if we talk about [politics] and see each other’s point of view, then it’s like, ‘Ok, I feel this way, and you feel this way,’” sophomore Madison James said. “Then we will agree to disagree; maybe I will try and convince him and he’ll try and convince me. It’s kind of mutual.”
Some students believe that a form of mutual respect is needed when talking about politics with a significant other; without it, the talk could quickly turn into an argument.
“So it never really breaks down into something like, ‘Oh you’re wrong,’” junior Jackie Perez said. “We just kind of let it go and [say], ‘Ok you’re entitled to your own opinion, and I’m entitled to my own opinion.’ It’s nothing extremely bad; I think we just know that we’re both entitled to our own opinion.”
Other students believe that they just should not bring up politics or politically charged topics and issues to begin with. This is known as “Strategic Topic Avoidance.” First written about by René M. Dailey and Nicolas A. Palomares, “Strategic Topic Avoidance” is when one or both partners try to completely and totally avoid certain topics which they know may start debate or argument in the hope that no long lasting disagreements stem from it.
“I try to keep [political beliefs] to myself and try not to stir up any conflicts,” sophomore Jack Gustafson said.
According to some students, partners with political differences can ease the stress of the relationship by turning arguments into friendly conversations.
“We talk about it; I ask her why and what she is for, and she tells me and I disagree or agree with her, and then we move on,” sophomore Wyatt Godwin said. “If we can’t reach an agreement, we keep going, just facts and opinions thrown out, and it’s not really an argument anymore—it’s more of a conversation.”
For some students, having a relationship with someone who has different political views can be a way to show their significant other a side of the argument they have not seen or heard before. These students try to expose their lives and political ideas to their partner in hopes that there is a chance they will change their mind on certain issues.
“I think the way it plays into our lives, he [significant other] is exposed to what’s going on in my life, and that changes his perspectives on things,” Perez said. “Especially our President right now, he’s saying a lot of things and lot of racial comments, but when he [significant other] is exposed to my life and the way I live, it’s like, ‘Oh that’s not how it really is all the time,’ and I think that’s really good.”
Students who are friends with couples who have political differences can sometimes find their squabbles about politics annoying and a waste of time for them and the couple.
“I definitely feel annoyed whenever [my friend] comes [to complain about his significant other] to me,” sophomore Chris Ocariza said. “Politics is the main reason my friend comes to me [for advice]; there really is not any other [conflicts].”
In the proverbial battlefield that is American politics, there are numerous amounts of issues to debate and just as numerous ideals and sides to agree with. So what kind of political issues and ideas do student couples argue about?
“Oh yeah definitely [an argument occurs] whenever a big event in the political realm happens,” said Ocrariza, “The immigration ban and any other executive orders that Trump has established stir up even more arguments.”
On what issues in American politics matter to him, his significant other and other educators, social studies teacher Joseph Kiertekles said, “important topics at hand are anything that’s in the news from national news to state news—anything with education.”
A poll by The Omniscient asked students two questions: whether or not they would date someone with political differences, and if they would prefer to date someone with similar political ideas.
The first question concluded that 58.4 percent of students would date someone with political differences, 12 percent would not date someone with political differences and 29.5 percent did not know whether they would or would not go out with someone with political differences.
The second question concluded that 75.3 percent of students would rather date someone with political similarities, six percent of students would rather date someone with political difference, and 18.7 percent did not know whether they would want to date someone with political similarities or differences.
A majority of the students polled were willing to see someone romantically that have political differences, but would much rather date someone with similar political ideas to their own. Students seem to think political differences are not something that should be an absolute deal breaker when forming relationships, but something to be considered.
– By Declan Dolan