Introduction
It is important to note that the institute of marriage has a peculiar position in the modern context. One might even state that it is neither necessary nor beneficial for men regarding fatherhood and relationships. The given analysis will argue that men, especially African American men, should not be getting married. The main reasons why marriage is dangerous for men include divorce rates, stereotyping in the context of gender equality, and racial discrimination.
Divorce
Firstly, one of the biggest and most concerning dangers of marriage for men is divorce, which is occurring at a rampant rate in the United States. It is stated that the US “has the sixth highest divorce rate in the world, with 40% to 50% of married couples filing for a divorce” (Divorce.com Staff, 2023, para. 1). In other words, there is 50% chance of failure with all of its financial, emotional, and legal implications for half of the men entering a marriage.
The situation is even worse when it comes to African American men. Evidence suggests that “Black women divorce at a higher rate (38.9%) than women of any other race” (Divorce.com Staff, 2023, para. 5). Because most marriages take place within one’s racial background, African American men are at the highest risk of facing the prospects of divorce. As a result, it is critical to recognize and acknowledge the facts around the reality of marriage, which showcases that marriage is likely to fail for a significant proportion of men entering into it.
Gender Equality and Stereotyping
Secondly, in the age of gender equality and equity, men continue to face the stereotype of being breadwinners and primary supporters of families. The research found that such stereotyping affects African American men most negatively both before marrying as well as after marriage (Perry, 2020). Before marrying, African American men are stereotyped as “not viable marriage mates because their financial struggles will not allow them to provide for a wife and children” (Perry, 2020, para. 4).
As a result, it is sensible not to enter marriage since they discriminated based on gender and race before it. In addition, the stereotype of African American men being the primary breadwinners in the family is most prevalent in Black couples, which does not correspond to the principles of gender equality (Perry, 2020). Therefore, there is added pressure from the stereotyping that should make African American men reluctant to marry.
Racial Discrimination
Thirdly, the general racial discrimination in the United States negatively affects both the mental and physical health of African American families. A study found that the given harmful health implications can be mitigated only if there is racism-specific solid support expressed by both partners (Smith et al., 2019). If such support is lacking or provided at a lower amount, then it is likely that marriage will have a deteriorating effect on African American men in such marriages (Smith et al., 2019). In other words, African American men are highly likely to incur both physical and mental health losses even if their marriage does not end with a divorce.
Conclusion
In conclusion, men, particularly African American men, should avoid getting married because it is likely to lead to divorce or ruin their physical and mental health while being exposed to gender and racial discrimination. The odds of having a healthy, productive, and successful marriage for African American men, and men in general, is low. The facts and statistics demonstrate that marriage is a risky and potentially dangerous endeavor, which requires a careful analysis of the pros and cons.
References
Divorce.com Staff. (2023). 48 Divorce statistics in the U.S. including divorce rate, race, & marriage length. Divorce.com. Web.
Perry, A. (2020). The reality of Black men’s love lives and marriages is very different than what’s usually shown on TV – I spent years actually talking to them. The Conversation. Web.
Smith, S. M., Williamson, L. D., Branch, H., & Fincham, F. D. (2019). Racial discrimination, racism-specific support, and self-reported health among African American couples. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 37(3), 779-799. Web.