University of Virginia professor Brad Wilcox points out that marriage is under attack from the Left and the Right — from those who call it a patriarchal tool of oppression and from those who say it’s a sucker’s deal for men.
Wilcox’s new book, Get Married, makes the case that marriage is good not only for kids, but for adults. He (along with liberal economist Melissa Kearney before him) is arguing against many liberals, who say there’s no evidence more marriage would be good. This includes some feminists, who argue that marriage is inherently oppressive.
“Historically, it has been a fundamental site of women’s oppression,” argues political philosopher Clare Chambers. “Currently, it is associated with the gendered division of labour. … Symbolically, the white wedding asserts that women’s ultimate dream and purpose is to marry, and remains replete with sexist…
