The Case for Marriage: Why Married People are Happier, Healthier and Better Off FinanciallyA groundbreaking look at marriage, one of the most basic and universal of all human institutions, which reveals the emotional, physical, economic, and sexual benefits that marriage brings to individuals and society as a whole. The Case for Marriage is a critically important intervention in the national debate about the future of family. Based on the authoritative research of family sociologist Linda J. Waite, journalist Maggie Gallagher, and a number of other scholars, this book’s findings dramatically contradict the anti-marriage myths that have become the common sense of most Americans. Today a broad consensus holds that marriage is a bad deal for women, that divorce is better for children when parents are unhappy, and that marriage is essentially a private choice, not a public institution. Waite and Gallagher flatly contradict these assumptions, arguing instead that by a broad range of indices, marriage is actually better for you than being single or divorced– physically, materially, and spiritually. They contend that married people live longer, have better health, earn more money, accumulate more wealth, feel more fulfillment in their lives, enjoy more satisfying sexual relationships, and have happier and more successful children than those who remain single, cohabit, or get divorced. The Case for Marriage combines clearheaded analysis, penetrating cultural criticism, and practical advice for strengthening the institution of marriage, and provides clear, essential guidelines for reestablishing marriage as the foundation for a healthy and happy society. “A compelling defense of a sacred union. The Case for Marriage is well written and well argued, empirically rigorous and learned, practical and commonsensical.” -- William J. Bennett, author of The Book of Virtues “Makes the absolutely critical point that marriage has been misrepresented and misunderstood.” -- The Wall Street Journal www.broadwaybooks.com |
Contents
The Marriage Wars | 1 |
The Marriage Bargain | 13 |
The Cohabitation Deal | 36 |
In Sickness and in Health | 47 |
Happily Ever After? | 65 |
With My Body I Thee Worship | 78 |
The Wages of Wedlock | 97 |
For Richer or for Poorer | 110 |
Being Fruitful | 124 |
When Should Parents Part? | 141 |
Is Marriage a Hitting License? | 150 |
Is Her Marriage Really Worse Than His? | 161 |
Why Is Marriage in Trouble? | 174 |
Renewing Marriage | 186 |
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abuse adults Alan Booth American Sociological Association American Sociological Review behavior benefits of marriage better boyfriends changes Cherlin chil child childbearing cohabiting couples cohabitors commitment compared conflict Covenant Marriage David Demography depression domestic violence earnings economic effects emotional health example expect Family Structure gender getting married happy household housework husbands and wives Ibid income Journal of Marriage kids Labor Economics less Lillard Linda Waite living Maggie Gallagher Margo Wilson Marital Status marriage penalty married couples married parents married women Martin Daly McLanahan men's mental health never-married no-fault no-fault divorce parental divorce partners Pepper Schwartz percent of married poverty problems psychological rates relationship riage risk role sexual single mothers single women single-parent families social someone spouses stay married stepfamilies teens Til Death University Press unmarried unwed vorce wage well-being widowed wife York young