Beyond "I Do": Marriage in the 20th-Century United States

The recent resurgence of restrictive divorce laws and direct challenges to marriage equality–which is part of a broader movement to redefine marriage to align with traditionalist ideals—echoes twentieth-century challenges and conflicts surrounding the institution of marriage. Marriage has long been a battleground for competing visions of morality, gender roles, and family. It is far from a static or neutral institution; it has continually been shaped by evolving cultural, legal, and economic forces. Our book, Beyond I Do: Marriage in the Twentieth Century, traces the evolution of these struggles and anxieties over the course of the twentieth century, illuminating the social, political, and legal forces that shaped debates over marriage and its meaning. We will present some of the essays in the collection and key themes.