Black Dating Professionals' Perceptions of Equity, Satisfaction, Power, and Romantic Alternatives and Ideals

Abstract

Blacks are the largest group of single individuals in America; they also have the lowest male to female gender balance. However, little is known about the romantic perceptions of single Black daters. Data were obtained via a question-naire from a group of professional single Black men (n = 44) and Black women (n = 91). Of interest were perceptions of their existing relationships with respect to satisfaction, equity, power, and romantic alternatives and ideals. Findings indicate significant gender differences: Males and females indicated similar levels of overall satisfaction, but females reported perceiving less equity and wielding more power in their relationships than did males. Males and females did not differ in their perceptions of available romantic alternatives, butfemales did report their existing relationships to be less ideal than did males. Sexual relations and partner's physical attractiveness were significant predictors of satisfaction for both males and females; equity was also significantforfemales.