An exploration of the marital preferences of heterosexual college-educated black women : a qualitative examination

The present study sought to examine the marital preferences of college-educated, heterosexual, Black women between the ages of 25 and 34. This sample of women had never been married but had a desire to become married in the future. Participants shared their marital preferences, their beliefs, attitudes, and experiences with finding a marriage partner and their perceptions of marriage difficulty. Data were analyzed using a grounded theory method in which several themes emerged. The results of this study outlined the key personal qualities that the participants desired in a marriage partner, in addition to their racial, educational, and socioeconomic preferences. Results also revealed the attitudes and views participants have about Black men and the various challenges and factors they believe impact their marital status. Implications and directions for future research are provided.