Want kids to have an advantage? Create a culture that encourages the raising of children by two parents. This is the argument presented by Dr. Melissa Kearney in her thought-provoking book, The Two-Parent Privilege: How Americans Stopped Getting Married and Started Falling Behind. Dr. Kearney, an MIT-trained economist, makes a compelling case that two-parent families enjoy significant economic advantages over single-parent families. She is no Bible thumper. I have no idea if she is religious or not. She does not make her case based on theology or ideology. Instead, it stems from rigorous statistical findings. The book is filled with extensive research and relevant data.
The book’s central thesis is not merely an observation; it serves as a call to action. Dr. Kearney highlights the urgent need to confront the decreasing rates of marriage and the growing prevalence of single-parent households, both of which contribute to economic insecurity for American families and widen the gaps in opportunities and outcomes for children from varying backgrounds. This is an issue that demands our attention. These insights are not new; research has been trending in this direction for quite some time. So, what has been the hold-up?
Empathy—not wanting to make anyone feel bad.
As one scholar revealed to Kearney after she spoke at a conference, “I tend to agree with you about all this–but are you sure you want to be out there saying this publicly?” Dr. Kearney is cautious about making anyone feel judged. It is important to acknowledge the heroic efforts of some single mothers and, to a lesser extent, single fathers who raise their children. But the numbers do not lie. As Dr. Kearney pointed out to a disagreeing married economist with children who have benefited from a two-parent household: Why deny the positive experiences you have enjoyed from others by practicing ignorance?
As uncomfortable as it sounds to express these truths in the marketplace of ideas, here is the key information, according to Kearney:
- Two-parent families are good for children.
- “The class divide in marriage and family structure has exacerbated inequality and class gaps.”
- There is a strong correlation between two-parent families and “higher rates of upward mobility.”
- Remaining silent about these findings does more harm than good.
I cannot stress enough how highly I recommend this book. It is a valuable resource for anyone interested in family dynamics and social issues. Whether you prefer hardcover, e-book, or audiobook formats, or if you want to access it for free through your local public library’s digital services, I urge you to read it. While not a book written specifically for the Christian audience, it reinforces the biblical teaching that God’s plan for marriage and family remains the best way.
P.S. You can find several good interviews with Melissa Kearney on YouTube about her work. Here is the link to one of them: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jIOjhq3ZRTQ&t=1754s
I’m Mark Edge; thanks for reading.
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* Thanks, Grammarly, for your editorial insights.
You can purchase Mark’s new book Holy Chaos How To Walk with God in a Frenzied World here:https://www.amazon.com/s?k=mark+edge&crid=3B1BM6W3LHOG0&sprefix=%2Caps%2C137&ref=nb_sb_ss_recent_2_0_recent