BLACK-WHITE COLLEGE-STUDENT ATTITUDES AND EXPECTATIONS IN PAYING FOR DATES

This study examined a black-white sample (N = 173) of university stude nts to ascertain if there is a protocol related to paying for dates. T he sample was comprised of 97 blacks and 76 whites. Most of the blacks were from a historically black university and most of the whites were from a predominantly white university, both located in the southeast. Blacks had a slightly lower mean family income when compared with whi tes. Both racial and gender role I elated attitudes and expectations r elated to pn)ting for dares were also explored. African Americans have generally been noted to enact more flexible or nontraditional gender role attitudes and behaviors in some areas. This study sought to ascer tain if this pattern followed in the economic dimension of dating. Fin dings showed race differences on several variables related to paying f or dates. Blacks were found to be less flexible or more traditional th an whites on several aspects of dating related attitudes and expectati ons. Whites were more likely to endorse more flexible role patterns an d seemed less concerned with a dating protocol. Other important backgr ound variables related to more flexible gender role attitudes and expe ctations were classification, age, and total income of respondents' fa mily of origin respectively.