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Cultural Variations in Marriage and Family

American males during the 1990s.There is
an increase in the number of poor women,
including black women,who are bearing
children,often by choice,but choosing not to
marry.This is not because marriage has lost
its meaning in low-income communities,but
because they want to be confident the
marriage will last (Edin & Kefalas,2005).
These families attempt to overcome the
challenges of childrearing by involving
extended family members in childcare
(Boyd-Franklin,2003; Collins,2000; Medora,
2005; Musick,Wilson,& Bynum,2000;
Sarkisian & Gerstel,2004).
Recent scholarship has focused on the
need for more involvement in parenthood
for African-American fathers.While it is
affirmed that marriage is the best
arrangement for African-American parents,
single fathers should be very involved in their
children’s lives (Clayton,Mincy,&
Blankenhorn,2003).
African-Americans have not given up
on marriage. They still want to marry.
However, they have separated the decision
to marry from the decision to parent. One
does not necessarily follow the other (Edin
& Kefalas, 2005). Middle-class African-
American families are building their own
communities, which emphasize dual-
income marriage and small family size. In
their struggles to balance work and family,
these families are similar to middle-class
white families (Toliver, 1998).

Hispanic-American Families

Hispanic-Americans encompass several

Spanish-speaking cultures, including

Mexican Americans, Cuban Americans,

Puerto Ricans, and others. The term

LatinoorLatinaalso refers to Hispanic-

Americans. This is the fastest-growing

ethnic group in America. The U.S. Census

(2007e) estimates the Hispanic-American

population will continue to grow and

spread throughout the United States. The

Hispanic growth rate was 24.3%, more

than 3 times the growth rate of the total

population. Projections suggest that by

2010, Hispanics will represent 15.5% of

the population and nearly 24.5% by 2050

(U.S. Census, 2007e). Hispanic women

also have the highest fertility rate of

American women, so these families

generally include many children (Downs,

2003). They also value their very strong

extended family ties.

Hispanic-American families tend to

assimilate readily into the larger culture.

Intermarriage is common. These factors

may cause a loss of cultural distinctiveness

and some of the unique strengths of their

highly cohesive families. As a result,

intergenerational conflict is common as

younger generations challenge the cultural

norms of the older generations (Olson &

DeFrain, 2006). For example, a Hispanic

teen may resent his parents’ accent, rules,

and in general, being “different” from

other peers.