I wrote about how modern marriage still isn’t built to handle women's ambition and career success—and what governments (and couples!) can do to change that.
theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/…
theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/…
1. Today's teens are surprising traditionalists when it comes to marriage.
When U.S. researchers looked at decades of teen surveys, they found more male/female teens today say working women are "acceptable" ... but most said full-time working mothers were not "desirable."
When U.S. researchers looked at decades of teen surveys, they found more male/female teens today say working women are "acceptable" ... but most said full-time working mothers were not "desirable."
2. Moreover, the co-author of that paper told me that much of the increase in dual-earner household "acceptability" is about economic anxiety rather than feminism.
I thought this part was fascinating and dispiriting-->
I thought this part was fascinating and dispiriting-->
3. If you're like me, you might think: American capitalism & work ethos has made it impossible for women to prioritize a career on their own terms and things are much different in a mature social democracy, like Sweden.
But that's not quite true.
But that's not quite true.
4. This second paper found that when Swedish wives earn a promotion or political appointment, it doubles their rate of divorce. There is no similar effect for successful men.
The likely cause? Traditional marriages, even in Sweden, still can't handle the wife's career success.
The likely cause? Traditional marriages, even in Sweden, still can't handle the wife's career success.
5. The upshot:
Of course, there are happy straight/gay couples where one person earns almost all the money.
It's the **overturning of initial expectations** that is most destabilizing.
And "work division" expectations in modern relationships remain mostly VERY traditional.
Of course, there are happy straight/gay couples where one person earns almost all the money.
It's the **overturning of initial expectations** that is most destabilizing.
And "work division" expectations in modern relationships remain mostly VERY traditional.
6. My biggest takeaway.
Better public policy (e.g., parental leave and equal pay) is necessary but insufficient for gender equality.
What also matters is private policy—the way couples talk, plan, and adapt when their lives or preferences change.
theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/…
Better public policy (e.g., parental leave and equal pay) is necessary but insufficient for gender equality.
What also matters is private policy—the way couples talk, plan, and adapt when their lives or preferences change.
theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/…
