A few days ago I linked to an article about how more people are delaying marriage these days or choosing not to marry at all. What I think was noticeably absent from the discussion during the time when this topic was back in the news, was the lack of commentary on the stereotype of the single African American woman in relation to women of other races. In fact, historically their has been all kinds of media analysis on the disproportional numbers of single Black women (Black Women See Fewer Black Men at the Alter from the NYTimes to be one of many examples) but it hardly gets a nod in the current "revelation" that many people are opting out of marriage. The closest mention was of how economics plays into marriage decisions with the rich marrying at higher rates than those with lower incomes. Check out an interesting response to the prior commentary: Don't lecture black women about marriage.
On a similar note, apparently a campaign was started back in 2010 to encourage black men and women to wed before having children as a response to the high number of single parent families in the black community (http://noweddingnowomb.com). While I am mostly befuddled by this "intervention", I also find it heterosexist and, to borrow a phrase from the domestic violence community, victim blaming. I found this reaction helpful in clarifying my reaction: Black women are not the problem and marriage is not the cure for the black community’s woes;
On a similar note, apparently a campaign was started back in 2010 to encourage black men and women to wed before having children as a response to the high number of single parent families in the black community (http://noweddingnowomb.com). While I am mostly befuddled by this "intervention", I also find it heterosexist and, to borrow a phrase from the domestic violence community, victim blaming. I found this reaction helpful in clarifying my reaction: Black women are not the problem and marriage is not the cure for the black community’s woes;
