{"id":1328,"date":"2025-03-03T02:28:06","date_gmt":"2025-03-03T02:28:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/academics\/tocqueville-program\/?post_type=furman-update&#038;p=1328"},"modified":"2025-07-29T19:46:39","modified_gmt":"2025-07-29T19:46:39","slug":"summary-of-the-american-family-discuss-with-on-discourse","status":"publish","type":"furman-update","link":"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/academics\/tocqueville-program\/lectures\/summary-of-the-american-family-discuss-with-on-discourse\/","title":{"rendered":"Lecture Summary: \u201cThe American Family. Discuss.\u201d, with On Discourse"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">On February 13, 2025, the <\/span><b>Tocqueville Center at Furman University<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> hosted a compelling panel discussion on <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The American Family<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, featuring distinguished scholars <\/span><b>Dr. Melissa Kearney, Dr. Brad Wilcox, and Dr. Kelsey Hample<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">. The conversation examined the evolving structure of family life in the United States, the socioeconomic effects of these shifts, and potential policy solutions.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>A video recording of the speaker portion of the event is available here:<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;text-align: center\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=TcYoPyOSuTc&amp;t=5s\">&#8220;The American Family. Discuss.&#8221; Watch here!\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Brad Wilcox spoke the day before on &#8220;Mammon or Marriage: How to Maximize Happiness in Life and Love&#8221;, which is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=i32PKBAlQMs&amp;t=3785s\">available to watch here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1332 alignleft lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/academics\/tocqueville-program\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/67\/2025\/03\/Screenshot-2025-03-02-at-8.31.28-PM.png\" alt=\"Melissa Kearney, Brad Wilcox, and Kelsey Hample discuss the American family structure\" width=\"538\" height=\"356\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/academics\/tocqueville-program\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/67\/2025\/03\/Screenshot-2025-03-02-at-8.31.28-PM.png 538w, https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/academics\/tocqueville-program\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/67\/2025\/03\/Screenshot-2025-03-02-at-8.31.28-PM-512x339.png 512w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 538px) 100vw, 538px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 538px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 538\/356;\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Rooted in the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/on-discourse\/\"><b>On Discourse<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> initiative\u2019s mission of fostering open, evidence-based dialogue, this event provided a platform for civil discussion on one of today\u2019s most pressing societal issues. Panelists explored <\/span><b>the role of marriage, economic mobility, and alternative family models<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, offering a range of perspectives to challenge and enrich public understanding.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Dr. Melissa Kearney: A Data-Driven Look at Family Structures<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Dr. <\/span><b>Melissa Kearney<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, an economist from the <\/span><b>University of Maryland<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, set the stage with insights from her book, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Two-Parent-Privilege-Americans-Stopped-Getting\/dp\/0226817784\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The Two-Parent Privilege: How Americans Stopped Getting Married and Started Falling Behind<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Drawing from decades of economic and sociological research, she highlighted:<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Declining Marriage Rates<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> \u2013 Marriage has become less common, particularly among lower-income and less-educated populations, contributing to a widening class divide.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>The Impact on Children<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> \u2013 More children are growing up outside of two-parent households, a shift correlated with higher rates of poverty and reduced educational attainment.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Economic Inequality<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> \u2013 Family structure is increasingly linked to economic outcomes, with children from married-parent households generally experiencing greater financial stability and mobility.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div id=\"attachment_1331\" style=\"width: 310px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1331\" class=\"wp-image-1331 size-medium lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/academics\/tocqueville-program\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/67\/2025\/03\/Screenshot-2025-03-02-at-8.40.39-PM-1-768x485.png\" alt=\"Melissa Kearney at Tocqueville Center panel on American family structure\" width=\"300\" height=\"189\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/academics\/tocqueville-program\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/67\/2025\/03\/Screenshot-2025-03-02-at-8.40.39-PM-1-768x485.png 768w, https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/academics\/tocqueville-program\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/67\/2025\/03\/Screenshot-2025-03-02-at-8.40.39-PM-1-1024x647.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/academics\/tocqueville-program\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/67\/2025\/03\/Screenshot-2025-03-02-at-8.40.39-PM-1-1536x970.png 1536w, https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/academics\/tocqueville-program\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/67\/2025\/03\/Screenshot-2025-03-02-at-8.40.39-PM-1-512x323.png 512w, https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/academics\/tocqueville-program\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/67\/2025\/03\/Screenshot-2025-03-02-at-8.40.39-PM-1-1280x809.png 1280w, https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/academics\/tocqueville-program\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/67\/2025\/03\/Screenshot-2025-03-02-at-8.40.39-PM-1.png 1694w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 300px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 300\/189;\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-1331\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Dr. Melissa Kearney discusses marriage and the American family at a Tocqueville Center panel<\/p><\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Dr. Kearney emphasized that her conclusions stem from <\/span><b>empirical evidence, not ideology<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, though she acknowledged the debate surrounding her findings.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Diverging Perspectives: Panelist Responses<\/b><\/h2>\n<h3><b>Dr. Brad Wilcox: Strengthening Marriage Through Policy<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Dr. Brad Wilcox, a sociologist at the University of Virginia and author of <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Get-Married-Americans-Families-Civilization\/dp\/0063210851\/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3TMJQPOUCC73J&amp;dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.fr_ccjKHHOYWcdZQgxNhNYQyO1mvGecVS6arhAt6TNQrfc6eflxuje5n2nfRQzyXK3VLQOu33QxLDHx4P-5QC-1TOCwg4QH0S-1yhcCYdaudgBzq-jjB0lIiaQQOkSSthE0VBStx-HUpg1jGFXnp1VFTuEuErb8--m074JLHziQs9c5GKha-NyU9XWAitmH8.AXajcYaBq0ivz_EHN9iVjl3eqWjj8iTD_9FNuGmOw8c&amp;dib_tag=se&amp;keywords=brad+wilcox+marriage&amp;qid=1740964629&amp;s=books&amp;sprefix=brad+wilcox+marriag%2Cstripbooks%2C158&amp;sr=1-1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Get Married: Why Americans Must Defy the Elites, Forge Strong Families, and Save Civilization<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, largely concurred with Kearney\u2019s assessment but argued that <\/span><b>cultural and policy shifts\u2014beyond economic forces\u2014have contributed to marriage\u2019s decline<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">. He pointed to:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Public Policy Incentives<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> \u2013 Government assistance programs often favor single-parent households, unintentionally discouraging marriage.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>The Military as a Model<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> \u2013 Higher marriage rates among enlisted personnel suggest that <\/span><b>structural supports and financial incentives<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> can encourage family stability.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Potential Policy Solutions<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> \u2013 Wilcox advocated for tax benefits and other marriage-friendly policies that <\/span><b>promote long-term family stability<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, particularly for working-class Americans.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div id=\"attachment_1336\" style=\"width: 310px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1336\" class=\"wp-image-1336 size-medium lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/academics\/tocqueville-program\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/67\/2025\/03\/Screenshot-2025-03-02-at-9.01.02-PM-768x508.png\" alt=\"Brad Wilcox at Furman University\" width=\"300\" height=\"198\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/academics\/tocqueville-program\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/67\/2025\/03\/Screenshot-2025-03-02-at-9.01.02-PM-768x508.png 768w, https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/academics\/tocqueville-program\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/67\/2025\/03\/Screenshot-2025-03-02-at-9.01.02-PM-1024x677.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/academics\/tocqueville-program\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/67\/2025\/03\/Screenshot-2025-03-02-at-9.01.02-PM-1536x1016.png 1536w, https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/academics\/tocqueville-program\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/67\/2025\/03\/Screenshot-2025-03-02-at-9.01.02-PM-512x339.png 512w, https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/academics\/tocqueville-program\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/67\/2025\/03\/Screenshot-2025-03-02-at-9.01.02-PM-1280x846.png 1280w, https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/academics\/tocqueville-program\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/67\/2025\/03\/Screenshot-2025-03-02-at-9.01.02-PM.png 1688w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 300px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 300\/198;\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-1336\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Brad Wilcox joins a table discussion at &#8220;The American Family. Discuss&#8221;<\/p><\/div>\n<h3><b>Dr. Kelsey Hample: Rethinking Family Structures<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Dr. <\/span><b>Kelsey Hample<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, an economist at <\/span><b>Furman University<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, took a more critical stance, questioning whether public policy should prioritize marriage over other forms of family support. She argued that:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Expanding Family Definitions<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> \u2013 Two-parent households may provide economic benefits, but <\/span><b>multi-generational and communal living models<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> can offer similar stability.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Shifting Gender Roles<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> \u2013 With women surpassing men in educational achievement, Hample <\/span><b>challenged traditional assumptions<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> about marriage, urging greater support for stay-at-home fathers.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Beyond Traditional Marriage<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> \u2013 Rather than <\/span><b>returning to conventional marriage norms<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, she encouraged society to embrace <\/span><b>broader definitions of supportive family structures<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">While the panelists disagreed on specific solutions, their exchange reinforced the <\/span><b>importance of rigorous, respectful debate<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> when tackling complex social issues.<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_1334\" style=\"width: 310px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1334\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-1334 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/academics\/tocqueville-program\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/67\/2025\/03\/Screenshot-2025-03-02-at-8.38.30-PM-768x510.png\" alt=\"Marriage decline, economic policy and their effects on child development\" width=\"300\" height=\"199\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 300px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 300\/199;\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-1334\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Brad Wilcox, Kelsey Hample, and Melissa Kearney discuss the American family<\/p><\/div>\n<h2><b>Practicing Dialogue: Audience Conversations<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Following the panel, the <\/span><b>On Discourse<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> co-sponsored event transitioned to its central feature: <\/span><b>table discussions<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Attendees engaged in small-group conversations, using guided questions to explore their own views and respond to panel insights. <\/span><b>Professor Meghan Slining<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, an experienced dialogue facilitator, was present to support productive discussions.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-1337 alignleft lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/academics\/tocqueville-program\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/67\/2025\/03\/Screenshot-2025-03-02-at-8.32.55-PM-768x510.png\" alt=\"Students engage in table discussions at the Tocqueville Center \" width=\"300\" height=\"199\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/academics\/tocqueville-program\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/67\/2025\/03\/Screenshot-2025-03-02-at-8.32.55-PM-768x510.png 768w, https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/academics\/tocqueville-program\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/67\/2025\/03\/Screenshot-2025-03-02-at-8.32.55-PM-1024x679.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/academics\/tocqueville-program\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/67\/2025\/03\/Screenshot-2025-03-02-at-8.32.55-PM-1536x1019.png 1536w, https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/academics\/tocqueville-program\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/67\/2025\/03\/Screenshot-2025-03-02-at-8.32.55-PM-512x340.png 512w, https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/academics\/tocqueville-program\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/67\/2025\/03\/Screenshot-2025-03-02-at-8.32.55-PM-1280x849.png 1280w, https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/academics\/tocqueville-program\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/67\/2025\/03\/Screenshot-2025-03-02-at-8.32.55-PM.png 1694w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 300px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 300\/199;\" \/><\/p>\n<p><b>Table Discussion Questions:<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Should society encourage marriage? Why or why not?<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Should government policies support marriage? If so, what policies would be most effective?<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Did anything from tonight\u2019s discussion challenge your perspective? Why?<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Afterward, the panelists returned to engage with participants, responding to reflections and questions. Each speaker then offered <\/span><b>a final two-minute takeaway<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, closing the evening on a thoughtful note.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-1338 alignright lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/academics\/tocqueville-program\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/67\/2025\/03\/Screenshot-2025-03-02-at-8.36.42-PM-768x510.png\" alt=\"Students participate in Tocqueville Center\/On Discourse event at Furman University\" width=\"300\" height=\"199\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/academics\/tocqueville-program\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/67\/2025\/03\/Screenshot-2025-03-02-at-8.36.42-PM-768x510.png 768w, https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/academics\/tocqueville-program\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/67\/2025\/03\/Screenshot-2025-03-02-at-8.36.42-PM-1024x681.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/academics\/tocqueville-program\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/67\/2025\/03\/Screenshot-2025-03-02-at-8.36.42-PM-1536x1021.png 1536w, https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/academics\/tocqueville-program\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/67\/2025\/03\/Screenshot-2025-03-02-at-8.36.42-PM-512x340.png 512w, https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/academics\/tocqueville-program\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/67\/2025\/03\/Screenshot-2025-03-02-at-8.36.42-PM-1280x851.png 1280w, https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/academics\/tocqueville-program\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/67\/2025\/03\/Screenshot-2025-03-02-at-8.36.42-PM.png 1694w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 300px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 300\/199;\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">This format mirrored the <\/span><b>On Discourse<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> event on patriotism last fall, which similarly encouraged <\/span><b>active audience engagement and nuanced debate<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">. <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">You can read more about that event <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/academics\/tocqueville-program\/lectures\/tocqueville-blog-summary-of-american-patriotism-discuss\/\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">here<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<h2><b>Conclusion: Fostering Meaningful Civic Discourse<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The <\/span><b>Tocqueville Center\u2019s<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> event underscored the importance of <\/span><b>thoughtful, evidence-based discussions<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> on sensitive societal topics. While panelists offered <\/span><b>differing perspectives on marriage and family policy<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, they shared a common goal: identifying <\/span><b>ways to support economic stability, child well-being, and social mobility<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> in an evolving America.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-1339 alignleft lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/academics\/tocqueville-program\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/67\/2025\/03\/Screenshot-2025-03-02-at-8.36.07-PM-768x511.png\" alt=\"Audience discussion of the American Family Structure \" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/academics\/tocqueville-program\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/67\/2025\/03\/Screenshot-2025-03-02-at-8.36.07-PM-768x511.png 768w, https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/academics\/tocqueville-program\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/67\/2025\/03\/Screenshot-2025-03-02-at-8.36.07-PM-1024x681.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/academics\/tocqueville-program\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/67\/2025\/03\/Screenshot-2025-03-02-at-8.36.07-PM-1536x1022.png 1536w, https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/academics\/tocqueville-program\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/67\/2025\/03\/Screenshot-2025-03-02-at-8.36.07-PM-512x341.png 512w, https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/academics\/tocqueville-program\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/67\/2025\/03\/Screenshot-2025-03-02-at-8.36.07-PM-1280x852.png 1280w, https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/academics\/tocqueville-program\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/67\/2025\/03\/Screenshot-2025-03-02-at-8.36.07-PM.png 1692w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 300px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 300\/200;\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">As debates over the definition and role of family continue, the <\/span><b>Tocqueville Center remains committed to facilitating informed, constructive dialogue<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u2014bridging ideological divides and promoting a deeper understanding of the issues shaping our society.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>We look forward to continuing our co-sponsored events with the On Discourse initiative! <span style=\"font-weight: 400\">And watch the full <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=i32PKBAlQMs&amp;t=11s\">Part 1<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=TcYoPyOSuTc&amp;t=5s\">Part 2<\/a> of &#8220;The American Family&#8221; on our YouTube channel.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>On February 13, 2025, the Tocqueville Center at Furman University hosted a compelling panel discussion on The American Family, featuring distinguished scholars Dr. Melissa Kearney, Dr. Brad Wilcox, and Dr. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":1343,"template":"","update-categories":[10],"class_list":["post-1328","furman-update","type-furman-update","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","furman-update-category-past-lectures"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/academics\/tocqueville-program\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/lectures\/1328","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/academics\/tocqueville-program\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/lectures"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/academics\/tocqueville-program\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/furman-update"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/academics\/tocqueville-program\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/lectures\/1328\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1465,"href":"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/academics\/tocqueville-program\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/lectures\/1328\/revisions\/1465"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/academics\/tocqueville-program\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1343"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/academics\/tocqueville-program\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1328"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"furman-update-category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/academics\/tocqueville-program\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/update-categories?post=1328"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}