{"product_id":"9781586423964","title":"You'll Do","description":"\u003cb\u003e\"Zug's wry, clear-eyed history of American marriage shines a new light on an old institution. An absolute  pleasure.\" — Liz Scheier, author of \u003ci\u003eNever Simple \u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAn illuminating and thought-provoking examination of the uniquely  American institution of marriage, from the Colonial era through the present day\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003ePerfect for fans of Rebecca Solnit and Rebecca Traister\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAmericans hold marriage in such high esteem that we push people toward it, reward them for taking part in it, and fetishize its benefits to the point that we routinely ignore or excuse bad behavior and societal ills in the name of protecting and promoting it.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003e In eras of slavery and segregation, Blacks sometimes gained white legal status through marriage.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eLaws have been designed to encourage people to marry so that certain societal benefits could be achieved: the population would increase, women would have financial security, children would be cared for, and immigrants would have familial connections.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003e   As late as the Great Depression, poor young women were encouraged to marry aged Civil War veterans for lifetime pensions.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe widely overlooked problem with this tradition is that individuals and society have relied on marriage to address or dismiss a range of injustices and inequities, from gender- and race-based discrimination, sexual violence, and predation to unequal financial treatment.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003e   One of the most persuasive arguments against women's right to vote was that marrying and influencing their husband's choices was just as meaningful, if not better.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThrough revealing storytelling, Zug builds a compelling case that when marriage is touted as “the solution” to such problems, it absolves the government, and society, of the responsibility for directly addressing them.","brand":"Marcia A. Zug","offers":[{"title":"Steerforth Press |  Paperback \/ softback | Trade paperback (US) |  2025-01-07","offer_id":46019551133951,"sku":"9781586423964","price":22.99,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0329\/9075\/7001\/files\/BNCImageAPI_1bb28e84-600d-4911-ab5a-0bd46a5fbbd6.jpg?v=1723187674","url":"https:\/\/riverbookshop.com\/products\/9781586423964","provider":"River Bookshop","version":"1.0","type":"link"}