How to make society more marriage friendly – Tim Carney

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What can we do to make society more family friendly and encourage man-woman marriages? I discussed this question with the journalist and author of Family Unfriendly, Tim Carney, who has spent years exploring it. In our interview, he explains how cultural and economic shifts have made it harder to form strong families, and he outlines practical solutions. You can watch the full discussion here.

Tim highlights the cultural focus on individualism, which sidelines marriage and family. He notes that many young people view relationships as optional or secondary. “Once autonomy becomes this loadstar, this almost God, then marriage is hard to justify.” He stresses that promoting the value of marriage and family life is vital to reversing this trend.

Tim also addresses economic barriers – particularly the lack of affordable housing, childcare costs, and societal pressure to provide children with “the best of everything”. He calls for policies that prioritise families, such as affordable starter homes, and giving parents the freedom to choose how they spend any available State resources, such as childcare subsidies or tax credits. “Some will want to pay for childcare, and some will want to build a granny flat” – parents should be able to decide.

Cultural attitudes to gender roles are another key issue. Tim observes that healthy families rely on men embracing fatherhood, and communities valuing the sacrifices mothers make. “Families need men who are men”, he says, while emphasising the need to celebrate mothers who dedicate themselves to raising children, whether they work outside the home or not.

Tim also emphasises the broader impact of family decline on society as a whole. Strong families, he argues, foster greater community cohesion, reduce social isolation, and provide a stable environment for raising well-adjusted children. “When families thrive, neighbourhoods and communities thrive,” he says, underlining the connection between family wellbeing and societal health. Addressing the family crisis, therefore, is not just a private matter but an issue of public importance with far-reaching benefits.

At C4M, we argue for the unique benefits of man-woman marriage to be protected and promoted as the cornerstone of a thriving society. As Tim suggests, you and I are the best advocates for promoting the value and unique benefits of real marriage. I hope Tim’s ideas give you suggestions to mention when next contacting your MP.