Vindication for Single Women

A recent book, “The Two-Parent Privilege,” by the economist Melissa Kearney, has received a great deal of media coverage, urging women and men to marry for the sake of their kids. But the journalist Anna Louie Sussman, who reports on gender, marriage and fertility, argues that “it’s not that easy to get married.”

In this audio essay, Sussman explains why marriage is out of reach for so many, and says that simply advising people to marry comes across as smug and out of touch.

(A full transcript of this audio essay will be available midday on the Times website.)

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This episode of “The Opinions” was produced by Jillian Weinberger. It was edited by Kaari Pitkin, Annie-Rose Strasser and Alison Bruzek. Mixing by Sonia Herrero. Original music by Carole Sabouraud and Pat McCusker. Fact-checking by Mary Marge Locker. Audience strategy by Kristina Samulewski and Shannon Busta.