Personal Characteristics of the Ideal African American Marriage Partner: A Survey of Adult Black Men and Women

• Published in: Journal of black studies Vol. 39; no. 4; pp. 570 - 588
• Main Authors: King, Anthony E. O., Allen, Terrence T.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Los Angeles, CA Sage Publications 01.03.2009; SAGE Publications; SAGE PUBLICATIONS, INC
• Subjects: Adults; African American culture; African American studies; African Americans; Age; Black communities; Black studies; Blacks; Criminal justice; Decision Making; Formal education; Gender; Ideal type; Income; Male-female relationships; Marriage; Mate Selection; Men; Partners; Personal characteristics; Personal relationships; Personality traits; Physical characteristics; Preferences; Sex; Spouses; Surveys; Womens studies; African Americans; male and female relationships; mate selection; marriage
• ISSN: 0021-9347; 1552-4566
• DOI: 10.1177/0021934707299637

This article presents the results from a survey of 344 African American adults concerning the personal characteristics they desire in their ideal marriage partner. The findings indicate that both African American men and women seek well-educated, financially stable, monogamous, and affluent partners who are spiritual, religious, self-confident, and reliable. The most significant finding is that respondents want ideal marriage partners who earn significantly more than they do, gender notwithstanding. In addition, respondents' income and gender significantly predict the differential between their incomes and their ideal partners. It appears as though respondents seek ideal marriage partners with incomes that will move them squarely into the middle class. Future studies should use larger and more representative samples, and include variables such as criminal history, skin shade, and physical characteristics in their analyses.