The representatives of different racial and ethnic groups tend to share dissimilar views regarding marriage, parenting, and divorce that are based on their cultural traditions and beliefs. Thus, Cuban Americans represent about 4% of all Hispanics who live in the United States. For this ethnic group, a high marriage rate (compared mainly to Whites) and a low divorce rate (compared to Whites and other Hispanics) are typical. Still, the percentage of marriages among young people has decreased recently, and many women choose to get married later than it was common some decades ago.
Since Cuban Americans usually have better education and comparably high incomes among other Hispanics, their primary purpose to get married is to have children. However, one should state that compared to other Hispanics, Cuban American women have the lowest fertility rate. Today, there is a tendency among Cuban Americans to decide to have children only after receiving an education and developing a career. Nevertheless, the representatives of this ethnic group pay much attention to family relationships, and extended families are often observed in this community.
The problem is that, although marriage rates are high and divorce rates are low, Cuban Americans have a significant separation rate. Couples prefer not to divorce because of associated legal and formal difficulties, and female-headed households become often observed among Cuban Americans’ households. However, it is important to note that married-couple households still represent the majority and reflect the overall tendencies typical of Hispanics in the United States. From this perspective, Cuban Americans share the traditions associated with other Hispanics in terms of focusing on the family and marriage. Nevertheless, they also tend to adapt to the changing world, and single-parent households become often observed in these communities.