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ENG 102: English Composition II - Gray

The Institution of Marriage

Photograph of the inside of a cathedral

The resources below examine the dynamics of Black heterosexual relationships and marriage, and how patriarchy influences these relationships. If you want to search for additional resources, the following search terms might help you get started.

Suggested Search Terms:

  • Black marriage
  • African American marriage
  • Gender roles African Americans
  • Gender roles marriage
  • Intimacy
  • Heterosexual relationships
  • Patriarchy
  • Feminism

Ebooks

These books are available to RCC students through Ebook Central and EBSCOhost.

Scholarly Journal Articles

Dixon, Patricia. “Marriage Among African Americans: What Does the Research Reveal?” Journal of African American Studies, vol. 13, no. 1, Mar. 2009, pp. 29–46. EBSCOhost, doi:10.1007/s12111-008-9062-5.

Hill, Shirley A. “Marriage among African American Women: A Gender Perspective.” Journal of Comparative Family Studies, vol. 37, no. 3, Summer 2006, pp. 421–440. EBSCOhost, doi:10.3138/jcfs.37.3.421.

Lovelace, Vanessa. “Toward a Model of Mutual Relationship in African American Marriages.” Mutuality, vol. 23, no. 2, Summer 2016, pp. 21–23. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=116282755&site=ehost-live.

Smith, Earl. “African American Men and Intimate Partner Violence.” Journal of African American Studies, vol. 12, no. 2, June 2008, pp. 156–179. EBSCOhost, doi:10.1007/s12111-008-9039-4.

Vil, Noelle M.St., et al. “Posttraumatic Slave Syndrome, the Patriarchal Nuclear Family Structure, and African American Male–Female Relationships.” Social Work, vol. 64, no. 2, Apr. 2019, pp. 139–146. EBSCOhost, doi:10.1093/sw/swz002.

Popular Media Articles

Alexander, Brian. "Marriage Eludes High-Achieving Black Women." NBC News, 13 Aug. 2009, https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna32379727#.W65ENNdKiM8

Cooper, Brittney. "All the Single Ladies: Thoughts on the Black Marriage Dilemma." HuffPost, 18 Mar. 2010, https://www.huffpost.com/entry/all-the-single-ladies-tho_b_420262

Harris, Tamara Winfrey. "The Assumptions Behind the 'Black Marriage Crisis'." The Guardian, 27 Jan. 2012, https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/cifamerica/2012/jan/27/assumptions-behind-black-marriage-crisis