Reimagining Singlehood: Redefining Singleness and Living Alone with Scholar, Author and Professor Dr. Kris Marsh

In this episode, host K. Wilkes, has an engaging, candid and thought provoking conversation with Dr. Kris Marsh as she discusses her book 'The Love Jones Cohort' which explores the experiences of single and living alone (SALA) individuals in the Black middle class. She challenges the stigma associated with singlehood and emphasizes the importance of destigmatizing it. Dr. Marsh also highlights the need to redefine the concept of family and recognize the significance of augmented families. She discusses the policy implications of recognizing augmented families and the structural constraints that limit personal choices. Additionally, Dr. Marsh addresses the impact of social media on dating choices and the concept of social homogamy. This conversation explores the impact of social media on dating choices, the problematic aspects of social media, the influence of colorism on relationship preferences, questioning the desire for marriage, the importance of nurturing non-romantic relationships, challenging societal expectations of marriage, exploring alternative forms of love, preconceived notions and perspectives on singlehood.  Dr Marsh shares information about her future projects which includes a book on golf and a book about the Black middle class in South Africa.  Dive into this engaging conversation and discover a fresh perspective on singlehood from an academic angle.  Escape the common tropes and opinions with insightful research and analysis.

To learn more about Dr. Kris Marsh:
Website: https://drkrismarsh.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drkrismarsh
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drkrismarsh

Takeaways

• The desire for marriage is often influenced by societal expectations and conditioning, and it is important to critically examine one's motivations.
• Non-romantic relationships should be valued and nurtured alongside romantic relationships.
• Social media can contribute to the perception of having too many choices in potential mates, leading to a lack of contentment.
• Social media can be both beneficial and highly problematic, as it often presents a curated version of people's lives.
• Colorism plays a role in relationship preferences, with societal conditioning influencing attraction to certain skin tones.
• Alternative forms of love, such as polyamory, may be more accepted in certain communities than in Black America.
• It is important to challenge societal norms and expectations surrounding marriage and relationships.

Chapters
00:00
Introduction and Background

04:28
The Love Jones Cohort

10:45
Target Audience and Book Classification

12:04
Criteria for the Cohort and the Black Middle Class Index

19:02
Redefining Family and Augmented Families

30:45
Policy Implications and Structural Constraints

36:49
Dating Choices and Social Homogamy

40:21
Impact of Social Media on Singlehood

41:58
The Impact of Social Media on Dating Choices

43:10
The Problematic Aspects of Social Media

44:25
The Influence of Colorism on Relationship Preferences

45:23
Questioning the Desire for Marriage

46:37
The Importance of Nurturing Non-Romantic Relationships

47:30
Challenging Societal Expectations of Marriage

51:11
Exploring Alternative Forms of Love

01:01:15
Preconceived Notions and Perspectives on Singlehood

01:04:26
Future Projects: Writing a Book on Golf and the Black Middle Class in South Africa

01:19:45
Fostering Critical Thinking

01:20:15
The Boondocks and Provoking Conversation

01:22:03
Closing Remarks and Contact Information