Emily Ekins: 5 Reasons to Get Married Young (and Not Wait)

For a generation told to delay marriage in pursuit of independence, career success, and personal growth, what if getting married young—say, in your early 20s—is actually one of the most strategic decisions you can make?In this episode of The Conservative Woman’s Guide, Karin Lips sits down with Emily Ekins, Vice President for Policy and Society at the Cato Institute, to explore the case for marrying young. Emily, who married her husband at 22, shares five data-backed reasons why walking down the aisle earlier can benefit women in the long run—from building a foundation with your spouse sooner to creating greater flexibility for future goals.Tune in as Karin and Emily challenge cultural assumptions that marriage should wait for arbitrary milestones and discuss what research reveals about building an intentional life.Join our community: https://enlightenedwomen.org/ Follow NeW on Instagram: @enlightenedwomenFollow NeW on X: @NeWNetworkFollow Karin Lips on Instagram: @karin.lipsFollow Karin Lips on X: @klipsFollow the Cato Institute on Instagram: @catoinstituteFollow Emily Ekins on X: @emilyekinsChapters:4:34 Growing Together5:12 Risk-Sharing7:56 Happiness & Well-Being9:10 Support in Difficult Moments9:49 Family Formation & Preserving Options15:26 Emily’s Message to Young Women16:21 Technology’s Effects on Gen Z22:21 American Civic Knowledge Gap28:45 Advice to your 22-year-old self