Can Black Women Increase Their Dating Odds Online?

November 17th, 2011 - By Brande Victorian

Lately any time someone asks if I am single, I can pretty much guarantee they’re going to follow that question up with another one—have you tried online dating? I typically respond with a no, because black men aren’t on match.com or eHarmony. (I have absolutely no data to prove that, it’s just an assumption I have about online dating and the type of prospects I would find on these sites.) Although the thinking behind the surge in online dating sites was to simplify the whole process, it’s become clear that the same social norms that are at play when it comes to in-person dating are also at work online—at least when it comes to certain preferences like race.

If you typically meet white, black, Asian, or Latino dates in person, most likely you’re going to look for people of those same ethnicities online. If you’re going online to find “something new,” it may not be any easier than if you were to try the same at a bar, museum, or play. A new study from researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, found that more than 80 percent of the communication initiated by whites was to other whites on online dating sites, while only 3 percent went to blacks. Black members of the same site, on the other hand, were more open to dating whites and were ten times more likely to contact whites.

The results vary slightly from a 2009 analysis of okcupid.com, which found that men of all races wrote back to black women at a rate of 20 percent less than the average. I wouldn’t go as far as to suggest that this means black women are the least desirable of any race online (as this writer does); rather I think this is reflective of the fact that the interracial dating trend hasn’t yet caught on online. Let’s be honest.

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  • swimmack

    Society puts so much pressure on single people. It’s so draining. Point is, black women don’t stand a chance in the eyes of society. I just don’t understand why we can’t catch a break. SMH…

    • Darkesthourglass

      That’s because we stand out more with our big hair, bigger backsides and loud outfits plus people/society watches way too much TV (if you catch my drift). Before then black women did pretty much what we wanted, not anymore.

  • Pioneeer

    Can we please stop talking about this!! Let it Go, Madame Noire..L E T I T G O!  Were all going to be alright. If you believe, god has great plans for us. Just go out there and be yourself and it will all fall into place. I’m tired of reading articles about this…

    • Love_Sexy

      Thank you so much Pioneer for saying that because you are 100% right….Leave matters in the hands of God because he will never fail you. God will grant you what you seek if you show your faith in him…..I am sick of these articles too they are not mentally healthy.

    • astodghill

      What do you mean when you say “articles like this”? This article is about TWO TOTALLY NEW web sites geared towards helping black women date successfully online. I think this is new information that many people would find interesting.

    • Elegance

      It’s a women’s magazine and women will always be interested in romantic relationships! Just don’t read the article if you don’t like it.

    • Darkesthourglass

      But if MN didn’t write articles like this what else would they write about? Madame Noire always wrote articles based around dating and relationships because those are topics women are interested in. Can’t always be clothes and hairstyles.

      • Jota

        Madame Noite could write an article about the silly notions of a couple of the commenters above who believe they’re already in a religion with a god that will set them up in a relationship with a real person. I’ve had plenty of friends who prayed to this Biblical god for years asking “him” to send a man into their lives. They got sadder and sadder and more confused wondering why “God” hadn’t sent a man to them yet as they were so lonely. It’s that same lonliness that causes them to believe they’re in a relationship with such a supernatural deity. It’s very sad. I always wonder though why women who believe they’re already in a relationship with a god seek out romantic relationships with real people. If the god were really there like they state, wouldn’t they feel fulfilled?

  • Heavenlyangelface

    What are some good dating sites? No black planet or mocospace please. Lol

  • reese

    I think you can increase your odds online because a larger group of people to interact with.   And these studies I think are misleading because they are all averaged from two sites.   You might have alot of success.   I had alot of success online when I was dating

    • Asantewaaspeaks

      Thank you Reece.  I agree with you that people should be open minded when it comes to online dating and I know plenty of black women who found their husbands online.  I’ve dated online.  In terms of the topic getting tired @Pioneeer – it is a a black Women’s publication.  All women’s publications discuss love and dating.  I think it is all about the angle that is taken – B Victorian did not put out one of those “whoa is me - no one wants black women” articles so I’m happy to see it.