David Popenoe, a sociologist who runs the National Marriage Project at Rutgers University, isn't optimistic. If you believe a survey he cites, marriages today aren't as happy as they were a generation ago.
Divorce rates are high, and cohabitation is on the rise.
The National Marriage Project is on a mission to fight these trends, despite the difficulty. This mini think tank aims to disseminate research on the changing nature of matrimony, spur public discussion, and revitalize the weakened institution. I don't think everyone should be married or all marriages should be saved, but we can do more to help people have strong marriages. Everyone wants one, but there's a growing sense they don't know how to go about it and want help. The project has drawn fire from critics who argue that its zealous focus on reviving marriage stigmatizes single parents, stepfamilies, gay couples, and other unconventional families.