Coontz is an expert on family and gender, and she’s written about marriage before, so she’s well-placed to explain why marriage rates have fallen — even as most people still think of it as an important commitment. Women today are less certain than men about wanting to get married in the first place. But divorce rates among those who do tie the knot are the lowest they’ve been in decades. Coontz says a complicated mix of shifting expectations, gender roles and sexual norms have resulted in today’s confused understanding of marriage. She’s joining us to talk about how to chart a course forward.
GUEST –
Stephanie Coontz | She’s the director of research and public education for the council on contemporary families. She’s also a professor emeritus at The Evergreen State College. Her latest book is called “For Better and Worse: The Complicated Past and Challenging Future of Marriage.”
Original Airdate: June 3, 2026; rebroadcast: Sept. 23, 2026