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PAGE 16 THE SOUTHERN ISRAELITE June 13, 1986 Harper’s Flowers THREE GENERA T/ONS SER V/NG ATLANTA SINCE 1921 l 8-5:00 Weekdays 9-12:00 Saturdays ^ ' 876-5766 : 1300 SPRING STREET., N.W. ENTRANCES ON SPRING ST. AND 16th ST. We accept all major credit cards. RGftHK REALTORS® ZAC RASMANICK, CRS Certified Residential Specialist OFFERING THE BEST OF INTOWN LIVING MORNINGSIDE VIRGINIA-HIGHLAND MIDTOWN DRUID HILLS ANSLEY BUCKHEAD off.-. 874-8800 Res.-. 892-1177 SID SHIER INTERIORS AS USUAL, MAKING ATLANTA *S HOMES PERSONALLY YOURS DESIGNING IN TRADITIONAL AND CONTEMPORARY SETTINGS i SID SHIER 349 PEACHTREE HILLS AVE., N.E. 233-65M FOR THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS Ron Weintraub New and Used Cadillacs Best of Europe, Jaguar Hennessy Cadillac Jaguar 3040 Piedmont Rd., N.E. Atlanta, GA 30305 261-5700 Single women weigh odds of getting married after 30 by Carolyn Gold No generation has been more scrutinized than the Baby Boomers, those young people born between 1946 and 1964. Time magazine. May I9, examined their econom ics, politics and lifestyles as the oldest of their peers turn 40 this year. Now Newsweek, June 2, con ducts a “search and destroy” mis sion into young women’s wedding dreams with a cover story called “The Marriage Crunch.” Newsweek reports that “white, college-educated women born in the mid-50s who are still single at 30 have only a 20 percent chance of marrying.” The article notes that black women have an even larger statistical handicap because of the lower number of college-educated males. This makes proverbial worrying mothers question, “What about Jewish women?” The educational levels of Jewish men and women are more equal, we know; but no data, encouraging or otherwise, were specifically reported about the marriage possibilities of single Jewish women. As a minority, are their chances of marriage greater or smaller? Is intermarriage diminishing their pool of available men to a larger degree than that of non-Jewish women? TSI decided to do a quick and admittedly unscientific local check. In March 1985, four young women, 30-ish in age, were inter viewed about being single and, some said, lonely in Atlanta. Going back to these same women pro vided some facts about their reac- the Goldev(Buddha restaurant 1905 Clairmont Road (1 2 block south of North Druid Hills Road) 633-5252 An exciting experience in au thentic Mandarin and Szerhueri cuisine. The menu is a pleasing combination of modest prices and more than 100 exotic entrees and dinner combina- Hours Mon. - Thurs.. 11:30 a.m. - 10 p.m. Fri. - Sat. .. 11 a.m. - 11 p.m. Sun 12 noon - 10 p.m. Open 7 Days tions to the Newsweek article and about what has happened to them in the past 15 months. The results appear happier than Newsweek’s readers would assume. Again using the same fictitious names, we’ll call the four women Amy, Beth, Carla and Debby. Amy is engaged and so excited she hasn’t had time to read the reported bad news. She met her fiance on a blind dateset up by friends. In six months they got engaged. Amy considers introduction by friends the best way to meet people. “A blind date finally worked out. Lord knows, l had enough of’em.” Beth found the report devastat ing. “It’s the newest thing, ‘fun facts’ on how bad the odds are.” She is 30 and admits that this year she has been concentrating more on her professional life, giving it more of her energy than her social life. She thoughtfully adds that she thinks there are more 18 to 25- year-old men around than those in their 30s; and her work situation doesn’t help her meet men the right age. Beth thinks “set-ups” by friends and small parties are the best ways to get to know new people. Carla says the article is depress ing and scary. She is currently going with someone whom she met through a Jewish organization, but unselfishly says she has lots of sin gle friends. “You don’t have to be married to be happy, but it’s sad to think that many of these women may not have children.” Debby was the most upbeat in 1985 about the opportunities here for meeting new people. She reports that the year has been okay. She met a couple of people, mostly through friends and acquaintances, but is not serious about anyone right now. She thinks the media’s emphasis on this being a woman’s problem is “frankly, skewed.” She asks why focus is not put on male issues such as the health problem of early heart attacks, and the con sequent worry of not getting to see their children grow up if they delay fatherhood until their 40s? Debby is bored with the sensa tionalizing of the marriage issue. She says she strives for a balance between her professional and her social life; she thinks people must take advantage of the opportuni ties to meet others by being active Debby says she has not tried a dat ing service but finds nothing wrong with the idea and might consider it someday. Meanwhile, the Jewish Dating Network reports that they have been bustling lately. They are see ing bright, successful, busy people who are very comfortable about coming in. Rae Goodman and Sherry Maziar, who run the confi dential, non-profit service, say this affords singles who are tired of group meeting places another avenue to meet people. Sherry and Rae do the selective process, thus saving their clients time. They now have to their credit six engagements, one marriage, and several couples seeing each other exclusively. In all, they have set up over 800 dates and still get a special thrill when they hear, “Thank you, she was great.” Of course, they have also come to accept, “He was not my type.” They explain, “You can’t predict the chemistry;” but more people are feeling that it’s okay to do this. Working to beat the odds in Atlanta, there also are Jewish sin gles directories, party givers and a matchmaking service. Singles ac tivities are sponsored by the var ious synagogues and temples and do not require membership in the congregation to attend. The Jew ish Community Center also spon sors singles socials and lectures. For some time now Emory Uni versity has offered a non-credit course “Before A Year Is Over, l Will Be Married.” For a registra tion fee and three consecutive Monday evenings, marriage-seeking participants can learn how to get going and out of the house, to make it happen. It may not be that easy for the older woman. The Yale-Harvard study as reported in Newsweek says the probability of marriage diminishes to 2.60 for forty-year- old women. An Atlanta divorced, professional woman agrees with both that figure and the fact that eligible men in the desired age range will marry women in their 30s. “Women are willing to marry but not at any cost. Available men are not of a quality they desire. Though they retain a certain op timism, many women,” she thinks, “have now become content and set in their lifestyles, as once held true lor older, single men.” I his busy w orking woman urges single friends to get involved in activities that are not for women only. She suggests investment pro grams which they need and where they are likely to meet male col leagues. More than anything, she wishes for increased awareness that the best avenue for meeting men is the traditional introduction made by friends. What has all the current empha sis on the lack of Prince Charmings done .’ It may have frightened some, challenged others and resigned the more mature to their fate. The situation can be best summarized by one career woman: “If I just had some guarantee that I would meet someone and get married in the next lew years, then I could really be enjoying my life right now.”