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The State of Marriage and the Family in America Today
Knopf
April 2009
On Sale: April 14, 2009
288 pages
ISBN: 0307266893
EAN: 9780307266897
Hardcover
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Non-Fiction
From one of the nationβs leading experts on the American family, a book that explores the state of marriage in America today; its evolution culturally; and with regard to religion and the law, how and why the present state of marriageβa merry-go-round of partnershipsβdeveloped, and the implications for parents and children. During Andrew J. Cherlinβs three decades of study and analysis of family life, he came to see that marriage in the United States was different than in other Western countriesβWestern Europe, Canada, Australia, and New Zealandβin a way that no one was writing about. He realized that marriage in America, unlike in other countries in the world, was seen as a cultural idael, and the U.S. government was spending money to promote its continuation. The institution of marriage had become a social and political battlefield. Cherlin writes that Americans marry more repeatedly and have more live-in partners; that marriage and remarriage, frequent divorce, and short-term cohabiting relationships have resulted in a core upheaval in American family life; and that American children have been left to cope with the frequent and disruptive comings and goings of parents. He writes that Americans have come to embrace two contradictory models of personal and family life: marriage, a formal commitment to share oneβs life with another; and individualism, which emphasizes personal growth and development. The former promotes a lasting relationship; the latter encourages one to move on. Each model is culturally reinforced by two basic, powerful institutions: religion and law. Cherlin writes about the inconsistency of American religion and law with regard to family life. He argues that contemporary religion, although supportive of marriage, embraces the quest for self-development. And he makes clear that family law, which used to be centered on marriage, is today focused on the individual and his or her obligations to children. He discusses the movement and civil struggle for same-sex marriage in America as opposed to in many European countries, where marriage is seen by gay couples as an oppressive heterosexual institution. A fascinating book that illuminates the shifting nature of Americaβs oldest and most cherished social institution, the subject of intense and ever-increasing national debate.
 Media BuzzDiane Rehm Show - NPR - March 14, 2012
Diane Rehm Show - NPR - May 28, 2009
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