(The Lion) — Despite the liberal narrative that women are oppressed by marriage and family, many say they are more fulfilled in these roles than others.

This was one finding among many in the 10th annual American Family Survey, which polled a representative sample of 3,000 Americans about a variety of family-related issues including marriage and child-rearing.

Pressing issues of 2024, according to those surveyed, included the financial burden of raising children, lack of parental discipline or guidance, career demands on parents, the rise of single parenthood, excessive digital consumption and a decline in faith practices.

Notably, there is double the concern about the cost of child-rearing than there was 10 years ago. In 2015, only 26% of Americans ranked it a top issue, while 50% do now. During the same period, concerns about parents not disciplining their children declined from 53% to 40%.

Despite the range of difficulties facing families, most respondents – whether Democrat or Republican – agreed that “raising children is one of life’s greatest joys.”

Americans also report valuing their identity as a parent and spouse or partner more highly than their professional, religious or political affiliations.

However, Republicans were far more likely than Democrats to say “marriage is needed to create strong families” (77% to 41%).

It’s perhaps unsurprising, then, that a much higher percentage of conservative women report being completely satisfied with life (37%) than liberal women (12%).

According to Brad Wilcox of the Institute for Family Studies, this gap is due to differing views on marriage and religion, both of which “lend meaning, direction, and a sense of solidarity to women’s lives.”

“We’ve seen in the research that conservative women tend to be more likely to embrace a sense of agency and to have the sense that they are not, in any way, the victim of larger structural realities or forces,” Wilcox added.

In fact, both getting married and preserving the sanctity of marriage come with benefits.

Prior studies have shown that people, particularly women, who marry without cohabiting experience higher levels of relational satisfaction.

And the American Enterprise Institute found higher marriage rates in a society are “strongly associated with more economic growth, more economic mobility, less child poverty, and higher median family income,” as well as a “positive labor market orientation among young men” and lower rates of violent crime.

Such benefits may be especially attractive to women, who are more likely to be impoverished or a single parent.

The American Family Survey also touched on several hot-button issues facing policymakers, including social media and giving cross-sex hormones to minors.

The poll found moderate support (46%) for banning social media for youth younger than 16, with Republicans, older people, and those who attend church being more supportive of the restrictions.

Additionally, 40% of respondents were in favor of banning hormone therapy for all minors. Fewer people (36%) opposed such a ban, while 25% were undecided.