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Author: Batson, Christie D.
Resulting in 1 citation.
1. Lichter, Daniel T.
Batson, Christie D.
Brown, J. Brian
Welfare Reform and Marriage Promotion: The Marital Expectations and Desires of Single and Cohabiting Mothers
Social Service Review 78,1 (March 2004): 2-25.
Also: http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.1086/380652
Cohort(s): NLSY79
Publisher: University of Chicago Press
Keyword(s): Cohabitation; Fertility; Marital Status; Marriage; Welfare

We examine the marital expectations, desires, and behaviors of single and cohabiting unmarried mothers using nationally representative data. Our study suggests that a substantial majority of unmarried women, including disadvantaged single and cohabiting mothers, value marriage as a personal goal. We also find systematic differences among subgroups with somewhat lower marital expectations among disadvantaged women, single mothers, and racial minority women. However, our results also indicate that marital desires do not easily translate into marriage. Accordingly, from a public policy perspective, single mothers' attitudes or values about marriage need not be changed. The problem is one of identifying and reducing barriers that prevent single women from realizing their strong aspirations for marriage.
Bibliography Citation
Lichter, Daniel T., Christie D. Batson and J. Brian Brown. "Welfare Reform and Marriage Promotion: The Marital Expectations and Desires of Single and Cohabiting Mothers." Social Service Review 78,1 (March 2004): 2-25.