Americans have historically placed an exceptionally high value on marriage, often promoting it as a solution to various societal problems. This has led to a system where marriage is incentivized and its benefits are idealized, sometimes to the point of overlooking or excusing harmful behaviors and systemic injustices. Throughout history, marriage has been used as a tool to address issues like racial inequality, population growth, and economic stability, with laws and social pressures designed to encourage its practice.
However, this reliance on marriage as a cure-all has created a significant problem: it has allowed individuals and society to ignore or downplay deep-seated inequities, such as gender and race-based discrimination, sexual violence, and financial disparities. By promoting marriage as a solution, governments and society have abdicated their responsibility to directly address these issues, effectively using marriage as a convenient excuse for inaction. The argument that women's influence through marriage was equivalent to voting rights exemplifies this tendency to use marriage as a substitute for addressing fundamental rights and systemic problems.
Readers who enjoy history and would like to know more about the institution of marriage will appreciate this well-researched book and will gain an appreciation for the role marriage played in our society.
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