Intimacy in Poverty's Midst: Marriage, Intimate Male Relationships, and TANF-Reliant African American Women

Abstract

This longitudinal study examined attitudes toward marriage and intimate male relationships among female, welfare-reliant African American heads of household ( N = 20). Respondents were selected through a purposive and snowball sampling technique. Most were single and 23–49 years of age, and typical families included 4 children. Respondents educational levels ranged from 10 to 14 years, and they had been on welfare an average of 6.2 years. Ethnographic data were collected by repeated interviews for 40 months from 1997 to 2000. Subjective and attitudinal outcomes among respondents appeared to be influenced by differential socioeconomic and life circumstances. Implications are discussed regarding public welfare policies, the impact on low-income families, and the federal Healthy Marriage Initiative.