The American family continuously evolves. People are marrying later, and having fewer children. Gay people get married. People can publicly swear off marriage altogether without being ostracized. But in politics the attachment to the traditionally nuclear family seems unwavering, and especially this year. As Republicans are losing support among women, more candidates are leaning on their wives and daughters to soften their image. So strong is the pressure that one candidate in Virginia posed with his friend’s wife and daughters and left the impression he was married. Why is there this enduring notion that there is just one version of the “ideal marriage”? We talk to Jessica Grose, a New York Times columnist and author of Screaming on the Inside. Grose pinpoints the origin of the American fixation on the nuclear family. And she explains how the candidates’ evoking of this ideal gets in the way of supporting policies that might actually help families Get more from your favorite Atlantic voices when you subscribe. You’ll enjoy unlimited access to Pulitzer-winning journalism, from clear-eyed analysis and insight on breaking news to fascinating explorations of our world. Subscribe today at TheAtlantic.com/podsub. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
I think it's fair to say
that the family has been deployed in this election in more overt ways than usual.
A great example, the very tight,
very closely watched race for Virginia's 7th congressional district.
The Democrats are hoping to flip the seat.
Their candidate is Eugene Vindman, an Army veteran and lawyer.
But not only that, he's a dad.
This is our dad.
I'm Eugene Vindman, and he is running.
For Congress and I approve this message.
Jesse.
Hi, dad.
Hi, dad.
Vindman's adorable red headed daughter gives him the sitcom dad treatment.
She jabs him in the ribs and his wife and son laugh.
It's all very cute and it's all part of a very explicit strategy.
In a place like exurban Virginia, Republicans are vulnerable, especially with women voters.
The gender divide between the two parties is big and growing.
So in Vindman's other ad, he takes on his opponent, Derek Anderson for being a MAGA extremist.
And particularly on this one important issue, when Roe v.