College + Marriage = Trouble?
One of the benefits of higher education is a stronger marriage - unless you're a black woman.
Women who go to college are less likely to divorce but this advantage doesn't accrue to African American women. That's according to a study done by Dr. Jeounghee Kim, assistant professor at Rutgers School of Social Work.
Dr. Kim's research followed couples starting from 1975 to 1979 and ending in 1995 to 1999. Her analysis took into consideration age, geographic location, motherhood status and educational levels at the time of the marriage. Educated white couples showed a decline in divorces over a nine year period. For African American couples, there was an increase in the dissolution of marriages during the eighties before declining among the 1990-1994 cohort. Marriages that resulted in long-term separation and not just legal divorce were both considered a dissolution of the marriage.
You can read more about the study at: http://psychcentral.com/news/2013/03/10/college-fails-to-protect-african-american-women-from-divorce/52397.html.
Black women can address this phenomenon in a couple of ways:
- Marry educated men of other races.
- Marry black men regardless of their level of education.
But what I'd like to know is what stops so many African American men from attending college - and what support, encouragement or change in mindset would make the difference?
One of the benefits of higher education is a stronger marriage - unless you're a black woman.
Women who go to college are less likely to divorce but this advantage doesn't accrue to African American women. That's according to a study done by Dr. Jeounghee Kim, assistant professor at Rutgers School of Social Work.
Dr. Kim's research followed couples starting from 1975 to 1979 and ending in 1995 to 1999. Her analysis took into consideration age, geographic location, motherhood status and educational levels at the time of the marriage. Educated white couples showed a decline in divorces over a nine year period. For African American couples, there was an increase in the dissolution of marriages during the eighties before declining among the 1990-1994 cohort. Marriages that resulted in long-term separation and not just legal divorce were both considered a dissolution of the marriage.
You can read more about the study at: http://psychcentral.com/news/2013/03/10/college-fails-to-protect-african-american-women-from-divorce/52397.html.
Black women can address this phenomenon in a couple of ways:
- Marry educated men of other races.
- Marry black men regardless of their level of education.
But what I'd like to know is what stops so many African American men from attending college - and what support, encouragement or change in mindset would make the difference?
posted by Joy Jones @ 10:11 PM
3 Comments:
At March 14, 2013 10:16 PM,
Joy Jones said…
This comment has been removed by the author.
At March 18, 2013 8:10 AM,
flitetym said…
The problem is not one of color, but culture. There are many reasons for this, but a prime one is that the African American culture has become increasingly anti-book since the early 60s -- (you know, the old "why are you carrying those books, you tryin' to be White?" This anti-education 'disease' has affected the males in particular.
But more importantly, young African American males -- often separated from Daddy -- find themselves in a desperate search for their masculinity. These males become advocates of what I call the "shooting syndrome"; i.e., shooting off at the mouth, shooting their 'wad', and shooting each other -- often all occurring at the same time. Is there any wonder why Black males see prison as a "rite of passage?"
This kind of immoral activity is glorified -- even to this day -- by music and sports figure, and leads to the heart of the problem (remember "2-Live Crew"?)
It seems that today, Blacks seem to be content with "leadership" that -- however bold and outspoken -- is nonetheless fundamentally ignorant, technically unskilled, and criminally inclined. Yes, that's right: Blacks are being led by imposters -- even up to the Presidential level. Any doubters out there need look no further than the unemployment rate for African Americans -- easily double that of Whites.
But I digress. Black women should indeed search "beyond the stoop" ...
From my perch, I see things getting no better for the plight of the Black male.
At March 18, 2013 7:02 PM,
Josh Gibson said…
Hi Joy,
as a a former full time instructor at two community college what I got from our young men is they don't see the opportunities there for young black men in the corporate world. This idea comes from watching the older black men in there lives and how corporate has treated them. To get them to go to school we have to change this perception.
I have written an e book called Stepchilde that talks about our men and what they can do to fix themselves. I intend to self publish it this summer. I invite you to read it and judge me solutions for yourself. It is much too complex to put in a comment but I enjoy your writings and would like to get your opinion.
One thing I believe is that black women should be open to dating outside the race. I think it is the ntaural by product of mainstreaming. I am lucky enough to have been married to a beautiful black women for twenty seven years, but if I had a daughter i would tell her to be open to love where you find it. Just remember to love your brothers even if you don' marry them. They need you!
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