Marriage in the 80s vs. Now: Is It Better or Worse?

Grab your headband and cue the synth: Dave and Ashley are going totally 80s for this one. Behind the mullet and the windbreakers, though, is a real conversation about how marriage has changed over the last 40 years. They dig into the stats: why the median age of first marriage jumped from around 22 to nearly 30, why fewer young people are dating or marrying at all, why the divorce rate has actually dropped since its 1980 peak, and how the loss of real community and the rise of the comparison trap are quietly straining marriages today. Some things are better, some are worse – but there’s a lot we can learn from looking back.
Listener question: Why does it seem like the modern church places all the responsibility on the husband – saying that if a wife is acting poorly, it’s because he isn’t leading well? Are wives ever held accountable for their own actions, or does headship let them off the hook?
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Dave and Ashley Willis spent thirteen years in full-time church ministry before devoting their work entirely toward the global mission of building stronger, Christ-centered marriages. Their marriage-related books, blogs, podcast, speaking events and media resources have reached millions of couples around the world making Dave and Ashley one of the most recognized and trusted couples in marriage ministry.
Dave and Ashley partnered with XO Marriage in 2018. XO Marriage is the nation's largest marriage-focused ministry.
The Willis family includes four sons and a rescue dog named "Chi Chi." When Dave and Ashley aren't writing and speaking, they love hanging out with their family, watching movies and going on long walks which is also where they develop many of their marriage ministry content ideas.
Learn more about Dave & Ashley at daveandashley.com

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