Sociology 3901: Worksheet--"Let's Get Married" http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/marriage/

1. Why has Oklahoma moved to the forefront of the marriage movement?

2. Why do you think the marriage movement has been more popular with Republican politicians than with Democracts?

3. What is PREP and why has Oklahoma made its part of its required training for mothers on Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF)?

4. Alex Kotlowitz has made a career out of studying inner city families, beginning with his classic book, There Are No Children Here. What makes him skeptical about the marriage movement as a solution to some of the problems of inner city families?

Sociology 3901: Groups--"Let's Get Married"

Discussion Questions:

1. Why do you think marriage has become relatively uncommon among poor families in central cities and births outside marriage so common??

2. The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 is predicated in part on the belief that the government can and should do more to promote marriage as a solution to many of the problems of poor families. What do you think?

3. One of the common routes to dependence on TANF is divorce. Another part of the "marriage movement" is the suggestion that it should be made much more difficult for couples with children to divorce. Again, what do you think?