Wendy Wang, Ph.D. (@WendyRWang) / X

Wendy Wang, Ph.D.

2,600 posts

Wendy Wang, Ph.D.

@WendyRWang

Marriage, family, and the Success Sequence. Data-driven. Senior Fellow & Director of Research @FamStudies. Ex @pewresearch. Posts my own.

ifstudies.org/blog/author/we…

Joined March 2013

Pinned
Wendy Wang, Ph.D.
@WendyRWang
Apr 13
The real U.S. fertility story is the massive drop in fertility among women in their 20s. The birth rate for women in their 20s has fallen nearly 40% over the past two decades. This is the group that has carried the most weight in determining the direction of the overall
Paul Novosad
@paulnovosad
Apr 13
Here's what the Upshot's graph looks like when we do it in number of births instead of % changes. This was a felony-level chart crime.
132K
Wendy Wang, Ph.D.
@WendyRWang
Aug 26, 2025
Despite the stress and less time for oneself, marriage and motherhood are linked to greater female flourishing: 1) More meaning and purpose 2) Greater happiness 3) More physical affection 4) Less loneliness Overall, a more enjoyable life. Full report by @jean_twenge,
642K
Wendy Wang, Ph.D.
@WendyRWang
Jul 23, 2025
The new data is in: Divorce probabilities for couples who married more recently start out much lower. Estimates from Yifeng Wan @UVA: ifstudies.org/blog/no-longer…
Wendy Wang, Ph.D.
@WendyRWang
Jul 22, 2025
Nearly 80% of married college-educated women in the U.S. can expect their marriages to last 20+ years. As divorce rates decline, that number may rise even further. @FamStudies: ifstudies.org/blog/the-us-di…
257K
Wendy Wang, Ph.D.
@WendyRWang
Dec 19, 2024
"The 20% most Republican counties have an aggregate total fertility rate of 1.76. The 20% most Democratic counties have an aggregate total fertility rate of 1.37, less than the EU." @grantjbailey @lymanstoneky @FamStudies: ifstudies.org/blog/the-trump…
44K
Wendy Wang, Ph.D.
@WendyRWang
Aug 27, 2025
Replying to @clairlemon and @jean_twenge
Actually, the share reflects only those who say life is enjoyable "all the time" or "most of the time." If you include those who say "some of the time," about 88% of married women and 78% of unmarried women find life enjoyable.
8.2K
Wendy Wang, Ph.D.
@WendyRWang
Jun 19, 2025
Even though online dating remains one of the most popular ways couples meet, data shows couples who met in person tend to be happier in their marriages than those who met online (except for those who met in bars). Gen-Z is taking notes: Some are ditching dating apps and
25K
Wendy Wang, Ph.D.
@WendyRWang
Aug 23, 2024
Motherhood often gets a bad rap today, but data shows that mothers' lives are generally less lonely, more meaningful, and happier. My piece with @BradWilcoxIFS @Deseret: deseret.com/opinion/2024/0…
37K
Wendy Wang, Ph.D.
@WendyRWang
May 16, 2018
"All young Americans—regardless of their parents’ education, ethnicity, or religious commitments (or lack thereof)—deserve to hear straight talk about the importance of education, work, and marriage." @WilcoxNMP
Straight Talk About the Success Sequence, Marriage, and Poverty
From ifstudies.org
Wendy Wang, Ph.D.
@WendyRWang
Mar 9, 2023
This is the ideal order women wanted when starting a relationship, according to survey results by @lymanstoneky @FamStudies: ifstudies.org/blog/putting-t…
10K
Wendy Wang, Ph.D.
@WendyRWang
Apr 29, 2022
The U.S. birth rate is at a record low. Finding the right partner with whom to have children trumps economic reasons as the major hurdle for many adults who desire a family. @FamStudies: ifstudies.org/blog/no-honey-…
Wendy Wang, Ph.D.
@WendyRWang
Jul 22, 2025
Nearly 80% of married college-educated women in the U.S. can expect their marriages to last 20+ years. As divorce rates decline, that number may rise even further. @FamStudies: ifstudies.org/blog/the-us-di…
58K
Wendy Wang, Ph.D.
@WendyRWang
Nov 29, 2023
"Those raised in single-parent households, including this author, can still love and appreciate their own parents and families while recognizing that the data is clear: On average, marriage matters to our kids." @BradWilcoxIFS @FamStudies:
For Kids, Marriage Still Matters
From ifstudies.org
8K
Wendy Wang, Ph.D.
@WendyRWang
Jul 21, 2025
Wow, about 40% of women whose husbands are in the top 5% of earners stay at home. This could reflect both mothers' preferences for less than full-time work and the reality that only families with more economic resources can afford a stay-at-home spouse. Data from NEW
10K
Wendy Wang, Ph.D.
@WendyRWang
Oct 3, 2018
The projected lifetime risk for divorce in the UK is now at the same level as experienced by couples who married in 1972. ifstudies.org/blog/why-is-di…