Is the "Good Husband" a Myth? What Philosophy and Data Say About Modern Marriage

Is the "Good Husband" a Myth? What Philosophy and Data Say About Modern Marriage

Author: Gwendolyn Dolske, PhD & Rudy Salo | Philosophy & Education Podcast June 24, 2023 Duration: 48:37

The definition of a good husband is changing. Here's what the data actually says, and what philosophy thinks about it.

A hundred years ago, a good husband provided financially and came home on time. Today the research tells a strikingly different story and it has enormous implications for what makes a marriage work, what makes both partners happy, and what we're actually looking for when we commit to building a life with someone.

In this episode of Good Is In The Details, Gwendolyn Dolske and Rudy Salo dig into one of the most searched and most debated questions in modern relationships: What makes a good husband in 2023 and beyond? Our guest, Brian Page of Modern Husbands, gives us all the details. 

What we explore in this episode:

  • What the data says about marriage and happiness; including the finding from the transcript that when both partners have an equal voice in financial decisions, couples are happier and far more likely to stay married
  • How equal decision-making in marriage is consistently linked to higher marital happiness and how husbands who share household labor have greater odds of being in the high happiness trajectory.
  • How public attitudes about marriage have shifted dramatically with 62% of Americans now saying marriages are better when both partners share jobs and household responsibility.
  • What philosophy says about partnership, commitment, and the ethics of relationships
  • Whether the "good provider" model of husbandhood is outdated and what replaces it.
  • How gender norms shape what men believe a good husband looks like and how those norms can harm both partners.
  • What emotional labor, cognitive labor, and equal partnership actually look like in practice.
  • The Aristotelian case for a flourishing marriage: what does it mean for both people to genuinely thrive?

Learn more about Brian Page: https://www.modernhusbands.com/our-founder

Get in touch: https://www.goodisinthedetails.com

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Hosted by Gwendolyn Dolske, Ph.D., and Rudy Salo, Good Is In The Details operates on the belief that the most profound insights are often hidden in plain sight, waiting to be unpacked. This philosophy and education podcast doesn't just skim the surface of big topics; it lingers there, examining the nuances of how we think, learn, and ultimately live our lives. You'll hear thoughtful, meandering conversations with scholars, authors, and practitioners from diverse fields, all centered on how ideas from ethics, culture, and critical thinking intersect with our daily realities. The hosts have a knack for breaking down complex academic concepts without losing their depth, making each episode feel like an engaging seminar you can enjoy on a walk or during your commute. Rather than offering easy answers, this podcast provides the tools and perspectives to ask better questions, finding the substance in the subtleties that we often overlook. It’s for anyone who believes that understanding the framework of an argument or the history of a thought is just as important as the conclusion. Tune in for a consistently thoughtful exploration of the books, theories, and cultural forces that quietly shape our world.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Good Is In The Details
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