Why Is Marriage Important? | Dr. Brad Wilcox | #122
Dr. Liz Hale and Dr. Dave Schramm talk with Dr. Brad Wilcox, sociology professor and Director of the National Marriage Project, about why marriage matters more than ever. They discuss its key benefits—emotional support, financial stability, child well-being, and community strength—while addressing challenges like cohabitation, communication struggles, and shifting cultural attitudes. This episode offers practical insights and hope for building strong, lasting marriages.
Chapters:
0:00 - Introduction
01:09 - Welcome
02:01 - Great Work in Utah
02:43 - What Makes Marriages Successful
08:25 - Woman Appreciate Safety
09:06 - What Do Men Appreciate?
10:29 - Why Does Marriage Matter?
14:21 - Dad's Are Important
16:12 - What Challenges Are Ahead?
19:47 - Cohabitation
23:37 - Practical Tips for Newlyweds
27:29 - Struggling Couples
30:45 - Marriage and Family Trends and Effects
33:27 - Get Married
40:26 - Re-marriage
42:56 - Dr. Wilcox Books and Resources
43:43 - The Key To A Stronger Marriage
45:09 - Brad's Takeaway
46:07 - Liz's Takeaway
46:20 - Dave's Takeaway
47:19 - Closing
About Brad Wilcox:
Brad Wilcox is Melville Foundation Jefferson Scholars Foundation University Professor of Sociology and Director of the National Marriage Project at the University of Virginia, Future of 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: “Appreciate the unique strengths you and your spouse bring to your marriage. Instead of striving for a perfect 50/50 split, cultivate gratitude for each other's distinct gifts and express it regularly.”
Liz: “Skip cohabitation—say yes to marriage and staying committed.”
Dave: “Relationships have struggles, but intentionality matters. Slow down, respond instead of reacting, and focus on hope. Stick to foundational principles, whether learned or newly embraced, to build a strong, lasting marriage.”