Asbury University Honors Program and T.W. Lewis Foundation co-sponsored a lecture entitled “Mammon or Marriage?” by sociologist and researcher Brad Wilcox. The event has sparked numerous conversations on campus regarding the pursuit of career and family life, especially during the college journey.
Drawing on research presented in Wilcox’s recent book “Get Married”, Wilcox claimed that despite current societal messages discouraging marriage in favor of pursuing career and financial success, married people are significantly more likely to report happiness than unmarried people.
Wilcox discussed the benefits of marriage in terms of strengthening society, citing the United States’ loneliness epidemic and declining fertility rates. He encouraged families to talk with their kids about marriage and finding a spouse. To students, Wilcox recommended intentionally looking for a life partner during college years, as well as considering marrying earlier rather than later.
When it comes to the Asbury community’s own attitudes towards marriage and career, students shared varying impressions of campus culture. Some have observed that many students are pursuing marriage.
“I feel like campus is a pretty pro-marriage place,” said sophomore Lidia Calicott.
Sophomore David Smeburg likewise sees a greater “mix of people trying to find a long-term partner” at Asbury, when compared to secular universities.
Meanwhile, some feel that students are more career-driven while on campus.
Senior Caroline Curry said that she has observed “a lot of very ambitious women on campus,” who prioritize their career goals over pursuing marriage. Sophomore Malielani Min had a similar observation.
“A lot of people I happen to talk with had this idea: they want to get married and have kids, but they want to pursue their career first,” said Min.
Some students resonated with Wilcox’s call to date and marry earlier in life.
“I feel I personally would try to pursue having a family first and then a career because once you get into a career, it’s so, so hard to get out or stop that momentum,” said Min. “If I had to choose between like a successful six-figure career, possibly just be alone, or have like a warm, loving family and settle down somewhere, I would take having a family over that.”
Students also expressed some reservations regarding Wilcox’s ‘early marriage’ recommendation.
