Get Married and Have Kids - Brad Wilcox | Maiden Mother Matriarch 75
May 5, 2024
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Brad Wilcox, director of the National Marriage Project, discusses the decline in marriage rates, feminist practices in relationships, elite hypocrisy regarding marriage values, and the impact of family dynamics on children's well-being. The conversation explores the influence of traditions, shared last names, joint financial accounts, and the complexities of modern marriage trends.
Cultural and economic factors influence marriage rates among different American demographics.
Conservatives exhibit higher marital satisfaction by adhering to traditional marriage norms and values.
Male employment status is crucial for marital quality, particularly in working-class and poor communities.
Deep dives
Decline in Marriage Rates Among Gen Z Americans
Marriage rates have decreased by about 65% since 1970, leading to a projection that over one in three Gen Z individuals may never get married. This trend has disproportionately affected working-class and poor Americans, with a majority of children from college-educated families being raised in married parent households, while many children from lower socioeconomic backgrounds are raised in single-parent or cohabiting families.
Cultural and Class Divides in Marriage Trends
College-educated, religious, and conservative Americans exhibit higher marriage rates compared to their liberal, secular, and less educated counterparts. Even after considering factors like religion and education, conservatives tend to fare better in terms of marriage stability and happiness. Embracing traditional marriage norms and values, including sharing the same last name and joint checking accounts, contributes to higher marital satisfaction.
Impact of Male Employment on Marital Happiness
Male employment status has a significant impact on marital quality, with stable full-time employment positively correlating with higher marital satisfaction. Conservative cultural norms and a commitment to marriage and family values contribute to men being happily married. The absence of full-time employment among men, particularly in working-class and poor demographics, poses challenges to marriage stability and marital quality.
Challenges and Trends in Modern Family Dynamics
Adopted children, despite being raised in stable and affluent homes, often face various social and emotional challenges, leading to higher incarceration rates and lower college graduation rates. Family instability can contribute to a 'family-to-prison pipeline,' particularly affecting young men raised in non-intact family structures. The presence of step-parents in blended families can introduce vulnerabilities, with research highlighting increased risk of abuse and negative emotional outcomes.
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My guest today is Brad Wilcox, director of the National Marriage Project at the University of Virginia, fellow at the Institute for Family Studies, and author of the new book 'Get Married: Why Americans Must Defy the Elites, Forge Strong Families, and Save Civilization.'
We spoke about why a third of Gen Z Americans are likely to never marry, the so-call…
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