You'll Do

"Zug''s wry, clear-eyed history of American marriage shines a new light on an old institution. An absolute pleasure." -- Liz Scheier, author of An illuminating and thought-provoking examination of the uniquely American institution of marriage, from the Colonial era through the present day Perfect for fans of Rebecca Solnit and Rebecca Traister Americans hold marriage in such high esteem that we push people toward it, reward them for taking part in it, and fetishize its benefits to the point that we routinely ignore or excuse bad behavior and societal ills in the name of protecting and promoting it. Laws have been designed to encourage people to marry so that certain societal benefits could be achieved: the population would increase, women would have financial security, children would be cared for, and immigrants would have familial connections. The widely overlooked problem with this tradition is that individuals and society have relied on marriage to address or dismiss a range of injustices and inequities, from gender- and race-based discrimination, sexual violence, and predation to unequal financial treatment. Through revealing storytelling, Zug builds a compelling case that when marriage is touted as “the solution” to such problems, it absolves the government, and society, of the responsibility for directly addressing them.

Auteur

Marcia A. Zug

Contenu
Table of Contents:

Introduction                                             

1.      The Marital Bargain                          

2.      The Government Loves a Gold Digger

3.      The Power Couple: Marrying for Status and Power           

4.       The Marriage Defense                      

5.      The Married Parent                           

6.       Marrying for Money Part Deux     

Conclusion                                          

Notes