Why Marriage is So Important | Dr. Brad Wilcox | #122

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Today Dr. Liz Hale and Dr. Dave Schramm sit down with Dr. Brad Wilcox, professor of sociology and Director of the National Marriage Project at the University of Virginia. Dr. Wilcox shares compelling research on why marriage matters more today than ever before. They explore key benefits of marriage, including emotional support, financial stability, child well-being, and community strength. He also discusses challenges couples face, such as cohabitation risks, communication struggles, and shifting cultural attitudes toward commitment. This episode provides practical insights for couples navigating the complexities of modern relationships and offers hope for those seeking to build a strong, lasting marriage.

About Dr. Wilcox:

Freedom Fellow at the Institute for Family Studies, and a nonresident senior fellow at
the American Enterprise Institute. The author of Get Married: Why Americans Should Defy the
Elites, Forge Strong Families and Save Civilization (Harper Collins, 2024), Wilcox studies
marriage, fatherhood, and the impact of strong and stable families on men, women, and
children.

Professor Wilcox is the author and coauthor of six books and has written for scientific journals
such as The American Sociological Review and The Journal of Marriage and Family, as well as
popular outlets like The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Atlantic, and National
Review.

With Nicholas H. Wolfinger, Wilcox is the co-author of Soul Mates: Religion, Sex, Love, and
Marriage Among African Americans and Latinos (Oxford, 2016), which shines a spotlight on the lives of strong and happy minority couples. He is also the coauthor of Gender and Parenthood: Biological and Social Scientific Perspectives (Columbia, 2013) with Kathleen Kovner Kline. His research has been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Atlantic, National Review Online, NPR, NBC’s The Today Show, and many other media outlets. Wilcox consults regularly with companies such as Nestle, Procter & Gamble, and Kimberly- Clark on fertility and marriage trends in the United States.
As an undergraduate, Wilcox was a Jefferson Scholar at the University of Virginia (’92) and later earned his Ph.D. from Princeton University. Prior to coming to the University of Virginia, he held research fellowships at Princeton University, Yale University, and the Brookings Institution.

Insights:

• Brad: "I think the one extra thing that I would that I would say is just trying to understand and appreciate kind of how you bring something unique to your marriage and family, and how, your spouse brings something unique to I think part of the challenge today is that in a more egalitarian age like ours, there can be kind of like competition or resentment around things not being exactly 5050, you know, in a marriage or family, and trying to just cultivate a sense of like, my wife does this, you know so much better than I do or vice my husband does that. You know so much better than I do. So just cultivating a sense of appreciation for the distinctive gifts and
  talents that your spouse brings, and expressing that gratitude for those gifts and talents on regular basis, think is helpful."
  
  
• Liz: "Just say no to cohabiting and just say yes to getting married and staying married."
  
  
• Dave: "It's just a simple message earlier that you talked about, but you know what relation all relationships are going to have struggles. And we talked a little bit about intentionality, right where there it is choosing what to focus on, what to look at, what to text, how to respond. It's more of a kind of a slowing down, learning to respond, instead of react so quickly to things that are going on in the in the relationship, and to offer couples hope. You know, there's hope and happiness. We talk a lot about some doom and gloom, maybe some challenges and struggles that a lot of couples feel, but I really feel like there is, there is hope, sticking to the the basics, some of the basics that we've talked about, holding true to those, to those virtues, or those, those foundational principles. I think that that you've been taught, or maybe haven't been taught
  in the home, but you can be a transitional character."

Dr. Wilcox Links:

Institute For Family Studies: https://ifstudies.org/blog/author/brad-wilcox

American Enterprise Institute: https://www.aei.org/profile/w-bradford-wilcox/

Books:

Get Married

Soul Mates

Gender and Parenthood

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Dr. Dave Schramm:

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http://drdavespeaks.com

Dr. Liz Hale:

http://www.drlizhale.com 

This episode provides a compassionate and practical guide for anyone seeking to build healthier perspectives around sexuality, reduce shame, and improve intimacy in their relationships. Don't miss this deeply insightful discussion!

It's often said that marriage takes work. The Stronger Marriage Connection podcast wants to help because a happy marriage is worth the effort. USU Family Life Professor Dr. Dave Schramm and Clinical Psychologist Dr. Liz Hale talk with experts about the principles and practices that will enhance your commitment, compassion, and emotional connection. 

More than ever before, marriages face obstacles, from the busyness of work and daily hassles to disagreements and digital distractions. It's no wonder couples sometimes drift apart, growing resentful, lonely, and isolated.

The Utah Marriage Commission invites you to listen and discover new ways to strengthen and protect your marriage connection today!