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For A New Revisionism: Scholarship on the Black Family since the Moynihan Report
Brief 9, Future of the Black Family Series, March 2008
The decline of marriage among African Americans has been one of the most dramatic social changes in recent history. Since 1965, scholars have taken two distinct positions on why this is so. The authors argue that both schools of thought are flawed, and call for a “new revisionism” in the field of African American family studies.
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The Shift and the Denial: Scholarly Attitudes toward Family Change, 1977-2002
Brief 8, February 2008
Many Americans have been questioning the importance of marriage, and the rift among scholars has allowed both progressives and traditionalists to claim that the experts are on their side. Over the past 20 years, have leading scholars reached a consensus on marriage?
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Read | Download
Protectors or Perpetrators? Fathers, Mothers, and Child Abuse and Neglect
Brief 7, January 2008
This research brief explores what role fathers play in perpetrating or protecting their children from child neglect and abuse, and it explores the social, emotional, and economic factors associated with paternal abuse and neglect.
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Read | Download
Hardwired to Connect: The New Scientific Case for Authoritative Communities
DVD, 2007
An informational DVD summarizing the findings of the Institute’s report, “Hardwired to Connect.” Copies are free while supplies last.
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Read more
Baby Fathers and American Family Formation
Essay, Future of the Black Family Series, August 2007
How do we help low-income, never-married parents stay together and avoid breaking up? Read how the “daddy moment” offers a potentially rich opportunity for researchers, policy makers, and other social and civic leaders to help the couple deal with tensions and issues arising from their shared parenting roles and possibly imagine marriage to one another.
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Responding to the Black Marriage Crisis: A New Vision for Change
Brief 6, Future of the Black Family Series, May 2007
This research brief lays out a positive vision and tangible steps that will help us create a new, healthy Black marriage culture in America.
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Religion, Race, and Relationships in Urban America
Brief 5, Future of the Black Family Series, May 2007
This brief is the first published research on the link between religiosity and relationship quality among unmarried couples in fragile families.
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Read | Download
The Health of an Institution: A United States Marriage Index
Fact Sheet, March 2007
View the proposed U.S. Marriage Index. It currently covers the years 1970 to 2000 and can be updated as more data becomes available.
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Read | Download
Marriage and Mental Health in Adults and Children
Brief 4, February 2007
Research strongly supports the idea that marriage matters for women�s, men�s, and children�s mental health.
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Read | Download
The Other Marriage Penalty: A New Proposal to Eliminate the Marriage Penalty for Low-Income Americans
Brief 3, Future of the Black Family Series, November 2006
Our welfare system frequently cuts benefits to low-income couples that decide to marry. Read more about the problem and a new proposal to fix it.
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Read | Download
Marriage and the Well-Being of African American Boys
Brief 2, Future of the Black Family Series, November 2006
African American boys tend to receive more support and have better outcomes–including greater self-esteem and reduced likelihood of delinquency–when they live with married parents.
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Read | Download
The Revolution in Parenthood: The Emerging Global Clash Between Adult Rights and Children’s Needs
Report, September 2006
Around the world, the two-person, mother-father model of parenthood is being fundamentally challenged. Read how.
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Read Report | Download Report (English)
| Download Report (French) Marriage and the Law: A Statement of Principles
Report, September 2006
100 family and legal scholars come together to critique current family law practices, affirm seven great truths about marriage and the law, and to offer three general insights that can be applied to a legal theory that is more respectful toward and supportive of marriage as a social institution.
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Read Ex Summ | Download Ex Summ
| Order ReportBetween Two Worlds: The Spiritual Lives of Children of Divorce
DVD, 2007
A 30 minute documentary narrated by author Elizabeth Marquardt and based on her book, Between Two Worlds: The Inner Lives of Children of Divorce. It features interviews with seven grown children of divorce talking about faith, family of origin, and marriage hopes and fears. Read more
What is America’s Most Serious Social Problem?
Fact Sheet, February 2006
The Scholarly Consensus on Marriage
Fact Sheet, February 2006
There’s a new consensus that marriage matters. Read select quotes from leading scholars and commentators.
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Family Structure and Children’s Educational Outcomes
Brief 1, November 2005
Family structure–whether a child�s parents are married, divorced, single, remarried, or cohabiting–is a significant influence on children�s educational performance.
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Read | Download
Why Marriage Matters, Second Edition: Twenty-Six Conclusions from the Social Sciences
Report, September 2005
Sixteen social scientists summarize marriage-related research into an extremely useful, succinct form.
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Read Ex Summ | Download Ex Summ
| Order ReportThe Consequences of Marriage for African Americans: A Comprehensive Literature Review
Report, Future of the Black Family Series, September 2005
Scholars still lack a comprehensive understanding of the consequences of marriage for African Americans. This report seeks to close that knowledge gap.
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Read Ex Summ | Download Ex Summ
| Order ReportThe Future of Family Law: Law and the Marriage Crisis in North America
Report, June 2005
Family law is heading in one or more of at least four troubling directions. Read why.
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Read Ex Summ | Download Ex Summ
| Order ReportThe Motherhood Study: Fresh Insights on Mothers’ Attitudes and Concerns
Report, May 2005
Mothers express their beliefs and concerns about mothering and their thoughts about social change.
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Read Ex Summ | Download Ex Summ
| Order ReportWhat Next for the Marriage Movement?
Report, February 2004
New opportunities and emerging crises exist today for those who wish to recreate a marriage culture.
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Read | Download
Can Government Strengthen Marriage? Evidence from the Social Sciences
Report, February 2004
Public policy may help reduce rates of unmarried childbearing and divorce, and strategies exist that correspond to the best current evidence from the social sciences.
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Read | Download
Hardwired to Connect: The New Scientific Case for Authoritative Communities
Report, September 2003
Recent research shows that children are biologically primed (“hardwired”) for enduring connections to others and for moral and spiritual meaning.
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Read Ex Summ | Download Ex Summ
| Order ReportDoes Divorce Make People Happy? Findings from a Study of Unhappy Marriages
Report, June 2002
