Women and Marriage

Twenty years ago this week, Newsweek magazine launched a front page assault on the nerves of women of a certain age with a big cover story asserting that women over 30 had only a 20 percent chance of ever getting married. And women over 40, said Newsweek — in an infamous turn of phrase — were "more likely to be killed by a terrorist" than to ever marry.

Turns out, Newsweek was flat wrong. The story was a piece of media hysteria at a time of deep cultural change. Women — and men — today are getting married at all kinds of ages. And the magazine is now eating crow — or wedding cake.

Hear about the marriage crunch that wasn't — men, women, and age at the altar.

Guests:

Lisa Miller, Senior Editor of Newsweek

Stephanie Coontz, Professor of history and family studies at Evergreen State College and author of Marriage, A History: From Obedience to Intimacy, or How Love Conquered Marriage

Andrew Cherlin, Professor of Sociology at Johns Hopkins University

Lori White, Associate Vice President for Student Affairs

Sally Jackson, profiled in 1986 and 2006 Newsweek article