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Happy Thursday! In today’s newsletter, we examine married women’s happiness, public trust in institutions, and the prevalence of political strongmen.

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1. Marriage Myth

Topline: Only 32 percent of women think married women with children live fuller and happier lives, compared to over 53 percent of women who believe the same for men. AEI’s Brad Wilcox and his coauthors examine the discrepancy between this belief and how content, married women actually feel—ultimately arguing that negative media portrayals of marriage play a large role.

What do the data say? Married women with children report feeling happy at higher rates than unmarried women with and without children, according to surveys completed by the authors. They also report experiencing a more enjoyable life, less loneliness, and a clearer sense of purpose.

The Discrepancy: Wilcox and his coauthors highlight that the discrepancy is partially attributable to the common media portrayal that married women are unhappy. Only 72 percent of 18-year-old women in 2023 said they were likely to have children, down from 85 percent in 2000.

“Despite the challenges associated with family life for women—including more stress and less time for oneself—there is no question that marriage and motherhood are linked to greater female flourishing on many other fronts.”—Brad Wilcox, Wendy Wang, Jean Twenge, and Jenet Erickson

2. Collapsing Civic Trust

Topline: New polling of residents in southwest Pennsylvania revealed that not one institution is trusted “a great deal” by a majority of respondents to do the right thing. AEI’s Sean Trende highlights that these numbers come at a time when trust in society is particularly low.

At the local level: While levels of trust were low for local officials and media, respondents still trusted these institutions more than those at the national level. 58 percent of residents said they trusted local news broadcasts a fair amount or a great deal compared to 38 percent of national news media. Similarly, 52 percent of respondents trusted local government officials a fair amount or a great deal compared to 36 percent of federal officials.

The Positives: Certain groups, including scientists, nonprofit organizations, the military, religious leaders, and public school officials, received high levels of trust. 40 percent of respondents—higher than for any other category—said that they trusted the military to do the right thing “a great deal.”

“The loss of trust in society and in our institutions is one of the defining challenges of our times, and one that seems particularly relevant in a region that has witnessed seismic political shifts over the past 20 years."—Sean Trende

3. The Rise of a "Strongman System"

Topline: While there are fewer authoritarian states than a century ago, illiberal democracies are growing, and recent years have seen the rise of a “strongman system.” AEI's Hal Brands warns of the danger this system poses to the world.

Today’s Strongmen: The strongman system is defined by illiberal leaders who control many of the powerful nations and use concentrated power to exert domestic authority to create historic change abroad. One can point to Russia’s Vladimir Putin, China’s Xi Jinping, and America’s Donald Trump as examples.

Their Aims: As one of history’s oldest political traditions, strongman rule has often been dominated by leaders with personal charisma and a large military presence. Recently, new technology and social media have allowed these leaders to reach wider audiences and cultivate personalities.

“It’s worth remembering, also, that the structures and traditions strongmen smash, at home and abroad, are sometimes in need of revision. But the bulk of the evidence suggests that strongman rule usually ends badly for individual countries. It could well make the international arena more turbulent, unpredictable, illiberal and predatory. A strongman system won’t lack for excitement. But it will surely make us miss the world we left behind.”—Hal Brands

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