RACE DIFFERENCES IN ATTITUDINAL AND MOTIVATIONAL FACTORS IN THE DECISION TO MARRY

Previous research into declining marriage rates among black women has focused on aggregate-level marriage market models and has failed to adequately assess attitudinal and motivational factors in the decision to marry. Individual-level data are presented here based on the National Survey of Families and Households that confirm the underlying assumptions of restricted marriage market models and contradict the notion that black women are rejecting marriage or see marriage as economically nonviable. These data suggest that marriage rates are lower among black women because black women place greater emphasis on having economic supports in place prior to marriage and are more resistant to marrying someone who has fewer resources. These attitudinal differences are seen as exacerbating the effects of more economically restrictive marriage markets for black women.