The Civitas Podcast Episode 32: Get Married and Save Civilization, with Brad Wilcox
Jun 24, 2025
Brad Wilcox, a sociology professor and director of the National Marriage Project, dives into the declining marriage rates since the 1970s and their impact on individual and societal well-being. He discusses the crucial role of stable two-parent families in fostering mental health and financial stability. Wilcox also analyzes the unintended consequences of family policies, societal double standards on marriage among elites, and the pressures modern couples face, emphasizing the importance of community support and fostering healthy relationships.
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Benefits of Stable Marriages
- Strong, stable marriages benefit children, adults, and communities alike.
- They reduce risks like depression, incarceration, and poverty while boosting happiness and economic mobility.
Causes of Marriage Decline
- Marriage decline results from cultural, economic, technological, and policy factors.
- These include the sexual revolution, men's declining employment, contraception, and welfare policies.
Inverted Hypocrisy of Elites
- Elites often publicly devalue marriage but privately uphold it.
- This "inverted hypocrisy" shows marriage's pragmatic benefits amid social status pressures.
