In the year of our lord 2025, an intercultural marriage should not be surprising or shocking to anyone. However, there still are people out there who just see this as somehow exploitative. They assume that someone must be in it for the visa, or are just golddiggers. It’s that much more sad when the people who hold this belief are one’s parents.

A man asked the internet if he was wrong to get up and leave during dinner when his parents would not stop insulting his Thai wife. We reached out to the man who made the post via private message and will update the article when he gets back to us.

Having an intercultural relationship does come with some complications

Image credits: ckstockphoto (not the actual photo)

But one man had enough of his parents horrible comments about his wife

Image credits: prathanchorruangsak (not the actual photo)

Image credits: Beautiful-Matter-731

Some families remain xenophobic, even if they hide it behind protective rhetoric

Some older Americans assume that their son’s foreign wife is a gold digger or only in it for a visa because of deep-rooted stereotypes, generational biases, and a lack of understanding about cross-cultural relationships. To them, the idea of a foreign woman marrying their son can seem suspicious, especially if she comes from a country with lower economic opportunities, for example, the aforementioned Thailand.

Instead of seeing the marriage as a genuine partnership, they frame it as a transactional arrangement, assuming their son is being taken advantage of rather than considering the possibility that two people from different backgrounds simply fell in love. This is particularly ridiculous in this story, as the wife is successful and educated, but old habits die hard.

A big reason for this mindset is the influence of media and past cultural narratives. Movies, television, and sensationalized news stories have long pushed the idea of the “mail-order bride” or the cunning foreign woman who uses marriage as a stepping stone to financial stability or U.S. citizenship.

While these situations do exist, they are far from the norm, yet some older Americans see them as proof that all international marriages are suspect. This generalization ignores the reality that relationships, regardless of nationality, are complex and based on a range of emotional, personal, and practical factors.

Image credits: fauxels (not the actual photo)

The son was right to leave

There is also an element of parental protectiveness at play. Some parents struggle with the idea that their son made a major life decision without their input, especially if they do not fully understand his wife’s background or culture. Instead of questioning their own biases, they frame their skepticism as concern, believing they are simply looking out for their son’s best interests. In reality, this attitude often stems from discomfort with change and an inability to accept that their son’s version of happiness may look different from what they envisioned for him.

In some cases, these assumptions are also tied to generational attitudes about marriage, gender roles, and economic stability. Older generations often place a strong emphasis on financial security and traditional relationship dynamics, so they may struggle to believe that love alone is enough to sustain a marriage—especially if their son’s wife does not come from a similar social or economic background. Instead of recognizing that international relationships can be built on the same foundation as any other, they default to skepticism, assuming ulterior motives where none exist.

Ultimately, these assumptions do more harm than good. They put unnecessary strain on family relationships, create resentment, and dismiss the idea that love can exist beyond borders. Rather than jumping to conclusions, parents would be better served by getting to know their son’s spouse on a personal level and recognizing that, in most cases, a marriage is just that—a marriage, not a scheme.

As this story demonstrates, the parents forced the son to pick between his wife and them. While this might seem improbable to them, he did exactly what he should have done, told them to stop. When they refused, a sign that their desire to “protect” him was false anyway, he left. While some parents feel that they can demand anything, adult children are just that, adults, and can make their own choices. This was the right move, how exactly can one imagine his relationship with his wife if he just allowed it to happen?

Image credits: fauxels (not the actual photo)

The man chatted with some readers in the comments

Most folks thought he was in the right

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