Sociodemographic Differentials in Mate Selection Preferences

Abstract

Data from over 2000 respondents in the [U.S.] National Survey of Families and Households are used to examine sociodemographic differentials in the stated willingness of individuals to marry persons with various social economic and demographic characteristics....While largely exploratory it draws on exchange and marriage market theories to develop hypotheses relating age race sex and socioeconomic resources to respondents stated willingness to marry persons outside the normative age range; who have been previously married; who already have children; who are of a different religion and race; who have relatively high or low earnings and education; and who are not physically attractive....Although the analysis should not be considered a critical test of these theories the hypotheses drawn from exchange theory generally fare better than those drawn from theories of the marriage market. (EXCERPT)