essay on diversity in physics

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Making a Difference: Ethnic Diversity in Physics

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James H. Stith; Making a Difference: Ethnic Diversity in Physics. Physics Today 1 July 1996; 49 (7): 39–47. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.881502

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F or years now, it seems, the physics community has talked about the need to increase the number of African Americans, Hispanics and Native Americans within its ranks, and both money and effort have been spent to achieve that goal. As measured by standardized test scores, there is evidence that we have had some success in improving the overall quality of science education for minorities. The number of minority students who enter college intending to major in science has also increased. However, there has been no significant corresponding rise in the number of physics BS or PhD degrees earned by minorities.

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9 Diversity in Physics

• Published: July 2016
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More women now undertake careers in physics than ever, but still only 17.5% of the scientists sent by universities and institutes worldwide to conduct research at CERN are female. Why is this so, and how could the situation be improved? Easily applicable changes are proposed to attract and retain not only women but also a broader diversity of people in science, since women are not the only underrepresented group in the field. Science has everything to gain by being more inclusive in terms of gender, race, sexual orientation, religion and physical ability since diversity brings more creativity, which is essential to science. Owing to its position as a scientific and international leader, CERN has the ability and a moral obligation to set an example at every level.

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March 4, 2022

Making diversity, equity, inclusion integral parts of physics education

by American Institute of Physics

While many physics instructors are beginning to incorporate lessons on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in the classroom, it can often feel like an add-on rather than an integral component of becoming a physicist.

In The Physics Teacher, by AIP Publishing, scientists from Carleton College and the University of Colorado Boulder are helping to change this narrative by presenting discussions and activities on DEI as a fundamental and essential part of physics training beyond the introductory physics level.

"Diversity, equity, and inclusion are a part of being a physicist, just as much as knowing about quantum mechanics or using an oscilloscope," said author Martha-Elizabeth Baylor.

The team created two separate approaches for DEI curriculum at the intermediate level in 30-person and 75- to 120-person classrooms. The former replaced one question on a weekly homework assignment with a reflection essay on a topic important to physicists . The latter included activities and discussions during a two-day unit on representation.

"On the whole, students respond positively to covering this material in a physics class ," said author Jessica Hoehn. "They are eager for these conversations."

The reflection essays in the first approach were a small component of a larger "Practicing Professionalism" framework, which explored what physicists know, do, and care about. Meanwhile, the second approach tested students on the ideas within their DEI activities and discussions, just as it would with other course content.

Baylor said students began the term by writing themselves out of the definition of a physicist. However, that changed by the end of the class.

"Many students come to see that the physics community thinks about the things that they think about, the things they care about," said Baylor. "They find that anybody can be a physicist. They just have to care about physics, choose to do physics, and choose that as part of their identity."

For women in these classes in particular, a large theme emerged: Their feelings about being in physics were particular to the cultural environment in the U.S.

The authors believe instructors can look at each curriculum and design their own lessons that they are comfortable enacting. The individual reflection activities in the first approach may be an easier start for instructors who want to engage with students on an individual basis, rather than lead a class discussion.

The researchers recommend looking at their resources for ideas, then gathering feedback and iteratively improving the curriculum. They hope to help other instructors frame physics as a human endeavor.

"We're doing this, because if you enter the physics community, you need to be able to engage intelligently and respectfully in these conversations," said Baylor.

The article appeared in The Physics Teacher .

Provided by American Institute of Physics

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Driving Towards a More Diverse Space Physics Research Community – Perspectives, Initiatives, Strategies, and Actions

Loading... Editorial 29 September 2023 Editorial: Driving towards a more diverse space physics research community—perspectives, initiatives, strategies, and actions Michael W. Liemohn , Mcarthur Jones , Xochitl Blanco-Cano , John Coxon ,  1 more  and  Chigomezyo Ngwira 1,431 views 0 citations

Loading... Perspective 28 August 2023 Supporting neurodivergent talent: ADHD, autism, and dyslexia in physics and space sciences Niescja E. Turner  and  Heather Haynes Smith 4,330 views 1 citations

Perspective 25 August 2023 The importance of recruitment and retention in Heliophysics: it’s not just a pipeline problem Alexa J. Halford ,  10 more  and  Jeff Klenzing 2,854 views 0 citations

Perspective 27 July 2023 Raising awareness on mental health in the heliophysics community Romina Nikoukar ,  4 more  and  Rachael Filwett 2,028 views 0 citations

Review 06 June 2023 Diversity in the space physics community: an overview of collaborative efforts led by The University of Alabama in Huntsville Mehmet S. Yalim ,  3 more  and  Katie Howatson 1,715 views 0 citations

Perspective 12 May 2023 Perspectives of interpersonal interventions at conferences to promote broader inclusion Beverly L. Smith-Keiling  and  Andreas Keiling 1,867 views 1 citations

Perspective 06 April 2023 MAVEN mission perspectives and approaches to inclusion S. M. Curry 1,596 views 0 citations

Mini Review 23 March 2023 HUG Initiative: Overcoming roadblocks on a research career roadmap of individuals from historically marginalized or underrepresented genders Mei-Yun Lin ,  1 more  and  Holly M. Golecki 1,314 views 0 citations

Review 23 March 2023 Space physics guide to STRIDE: Strategies and tactics for recruiting to improve diversity and excellence Michael W. Liemohn ,  1 more  and  Isis H. Settles 1,046 views 2 citations

Perspective 22 March 2023 SHIELD DRIVE Science Center: Efforts in diversification and inclusion in heliophysics Sanlyn Buxner ,  3 more  and  John Richardson 820 views 1 citations

Perspective 14 March 2023 The importance of local long-duration STEM mentorship as a global mechanism for increasing diversity at all levels of education Sarah Louise Gallagher Dunn ,  1 more  and  Dennis Lee Gallagher 2,050 views 0 citations

Review 17 February 2023 Enhancing demographics and career pathways of the space physics workforce in the US Fran Bagenal 2,218 views 2 citations

Loading... Perspective 25 January 2023 Tips for writing a good recommendation letter Angeline G. Burrell ,  3 more  and  Alexa J. Halford 7,411 views 3 citations

Loading... Perspective 14 December 2022 The ethics of diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice in the earth system sciences Melissa A. Burt ,  3 more  and  Valerie Sloan 4,241 views 4 citations

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Perspective 29 November 2022 Assessing the demographics of the 2021 and 2022 CEDAR workshop McArthur Jones  and  Astrid Maute 806 views 3 citations

Original Research 16 November 2022 Increasing recognition of historically marginalized scientists: Lessons learned from the Nomination Task Force Amy M. Keesee ,  4 more  and  Allison N. Jaynes 1,612 views 3 citations

Perspective 18 October 2022 The PI launchpad: Expanding the base of potential principal investigators across space sciences Erika Hamden ,  9 more  and  Nicole Cabrera Salazar 845 views 2 citations

Perspective 30 September 2022 UK magnetosphere, ionosphere and solar-terrestrial (MIST) awards taskforce: A perspective Maria-Theresia Walach ,  5 more  and  Andy Smith 1,562 views 2 citations

Loading... Opinion 29 September 2022 Use singular they—and other lessons learned from editing JGR-Space Michael W. Liemohn 888 views 5 citations

• News Releases

Making diversity, equity, inclusion integral part of physics education

By reflecting on what it means to be a physicist, instructors emphasize the human component of science.

American Institute of Physics

image: The practicing professionalism framework and its focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion infuse the human component of science into the physics classroom. view more 

Credit: Martha-Elizabeth Baylor

WASHINGTON, March 4, 2022 -- While many physics instructors are beginning to incorporate lessons on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in the classroom, it can often feel like an add-on rather than an integral component of becoming a physicist.

In The Physics Teacher, by AIP Publishing, scientists from Carleton College and the University of Colorado Boulder are helping to change this narrative by presenting discussions and activities on DEI as a fundamental and essential part of physics training beyond the introductory physics level.

"Diversity, equity, and inclusion are a part of being a physicist, just as much as knowing about quantum mechanics or using an oscilloscope," said author Martha-Elizabeth Baylor.

The team created two separate approaches for DEI curriculum at the intermediate level in 30-person and 75- to 120-person classrooms. The former replaced one question on a weekly homework assignment with a reflection essay on a topic important to physicists. The latter included activities and discussions during a two-day unit on representation.

"On the whole, students respond positively to covering this material in a physics class," said author Jessica Hoehn. "They are eager for these conversations."

The reflection essays in the first approach were a small component of a larger "Practicing Professionalism" framework, which explored what physicists know, do, and care about. Meanwhile, the second approach tested students on the ideas within their DEI activities and discussions, just as it would with other course content.

Baylor said students began the term by writing themselves out of the definition of a physicist. However, that changed by the end of the class.

"Many students come to see that the physics community thinks about the things that they think about, the things they care about," said Baylor. "They find that anybody can be a physicist. They just have to care about physics, choose to do physics, and choose that as part of their identity."

For women in these classes in particular, a large theme emerged: Their feelings about being in physics were particular to the cultural environment in the U.S.

The authors believe instructors can look at each curriculum and design their own lessons that they are comfortable enacting. The individual reflection activities in the first approach may be an easier start for instructors who want to engage with students on an individual basis, rather than lead a class discussion.

The researchers recommend looking at their resources for ideas, then gathering feedback and iteratively improving the curriculum. They hope to help other instructors frame physics as a human endeavor.

"We're doing this, because if you enter the physics community, you need to be able to engage intelligently and respectfully in these conversations," said Baylor.

The article "Infusing equity, diversity, and inclusion throughout our physics curriculum: (Re)defining what it means to be a physicist" is authored by Martha-Elizabeth Baylor, Jessica R. Hoehn, and Noah Finkelstein. The article appeared in The Physics Teacher on Feb. 28, 2022 (DOI: 10.1119/5.0032998) and can be accessed at https://aip.scitation.org/doi/full/10.1119/5.0032998 .

ABOUT THE JOURNAL

Dedicated to the strengthening of the teaching of introductory physics at all levels, The Physics Teacher includes tutorial papers, articles on pedagogy, current research, and news in physics, as well as history, philosophy, and biography. Notes cover classroom techniques, and columns feature demonstration apparatus and book and film reviews. See https://aapt.scitation.org/journal/pte .

AAPT is an international organization for physics educators, physicists, and industrial scientists with members worldwide. Dedicated to enhancing the understanding and appreciation of physics through teaching, AAPT provides awards, publications, and programs that encourage teaching practical application of physics principles, support continuing professional development, and reward excellence in physics education. AAPT was founded in 1930 and is headquartered in the American Center for Physics in College Park, Maryland.

The Physics Teacher

10.1119/5.0032998

Article Title

Infusing equity, diversity, and inclusion throughout our physics curriculum: (Re)defining what it means to be a physicist

Article Publication Date

28-Feb-2022

Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.

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CU Boulder Physics and JILA to host 2025 Conference for Undergraduate Women and Gender Minorities in Physics

Attendees from the 2017 Conference for Undergraduate Women in Physics hosted at CU Boulder.

Building on efforts to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in physics, CU Boulder’s Department of Physics and JILA will host a Conference for Undergraduate Women and Gender Minorities in Physics (CU*iP) in January 2025. The conference will bring approximately 150 students from the Midwest region to Boulder.

The three-day regional conferences are sponsored by the American Physical Society (APS) and held annually at select institutions around the country. They are designed to provide professional development opportunities for undergraduate women and gender minorities through networking, keynote speakers, career advice, and graduate school sessions.

“CU*iP conferences have been transformational for many women in STEM careers, and we are thrilled to be able to bring these experiences to our local undergraduate students,” said Bethany Wilcox, assistant professor of physics and chair of the local organizing committee. “In addition to supporting the next, diverse generation of physicists, this conference also provides community to the women and gender minorities already contributing to STEM fields and brings attention to the unique challenges these individuals face within the field while also providing practical tools and strategies for overcoming them.”

The conference in Boulder will be co-hosted by the Department of Physics and JILA, a joint institute between CU Boulder and the National Institute of Standards and Technology. Highlighting CU Boulder’s close partnerships with national laboratories and local industry, the conference will connect attendees with all the area has to offer.

“It’s wonderful that CU Boulder has been selected by the American Physical Society to host the 2025 CU*iP conference, following a successful conference here in 2017,” said Tobin Munsat, professor and chair of physics. “This is a terrific opportunity for professional development and networking for undergraduate women and gender minorities. Members of the local organizing committee are putting in an extraordinary amount of work to make the conference an engaging and valuable experience, and the Department of Physics is proud to be a part of it.”

The local organizing committee includes a highly motivated and dedicated group of undergraduate students, graduate students, postdocs, staff, and faculty. The committee is planning a variety of activities including plenary talks, facilitated discussions, social gatherings, poster sessions, and tours of local research institutions.

Several members of the local organizing committee attended CU*iP as an undergraduate and found it to be a very impactful experience. After attending CU*iP as an undergrad, physics graduate student Iona Binnie was inspired to improve access for underrepresented students through departmental initiatives and outreach. Binnie is now serving as a member of the local organizing committee for the 2025 CU*iP in Boulder.

“CU*iP played a large role in my undergraduate career in physics and in my decision to attend grad school,” said Binnie. “As a first-year undergrad, CU*iP was an opportunity to connect with female role models in physics and see a path for myself through a challenging major. The conference gave me the confidence and inspiration to continue with physics and connected me with a larger world of research that would have been hard to access otherwise.”

CU*iP conferences began as a grassroots effort at the University of Southern California in 2006. Since 2012, the American Physical Society has provided organizational support and the conferences are now hosted at more than ten institutions each year, providing opportunities for students around the country to attend. CU Boulder previously hosted a CU*iP conference in January 2017 which was well-attended by approximately 150 students.

Applications for the 2025 Conference for Undergraduate Women and Gender Minorities in Physics will open in October 2024. 

Interested in supporting the 2025 Conference for Undergraduate Women and Gender Minorities in Physics? Contact Professor Bethany Wilcox . 

Department of Physics

Mellon college of science, sufei shi brings department of physics new expertise.

By Kirsten Heuring kheuring(through)andrew.cmu.edu

• Associate Dean for Communications, MCS
• jhduffy(through)andrew.cmu.edu
• 412-268-9982

Sufei Shi is electrified to be working with Carnegie Mellon University physicists.

"Collaboration is one of the reasons I came here," said Shi, associate professor of physics . "The Department of Physics is really strong in condensed matter physics, so I know quite a few people already here."

Shi joined the Mellon College of Science in September 2023. Previously, he was an associate professor in the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

Shi's research focuses on synthesizing and analyzing low-dimensional quantum materials. In the past year, his group has published two papers in Nature Communications on moiré superlattices: "Quadrupolar Excitons and Hybridized Interlayer Mott Insulator in a Trilayer Moiré Superlattice" and "Exciton Superposition Across Moiré States in a Semiconducting Moiré Superlattice."

Moiré superlattices are formed by overlapping patterns of crystals, typically graphene. The orientation of the layers gives the materials different properties. For example, when the patterns are turned at a specific angle, 1.1 degrees, which is called the "magic angle," electron motion will be significantly slowed, and unconventional insulating states or even superconducting states emerge.

Shi's work with moiré lattices focuses on excitons in two-dimensional (2D) semiconductors, pairings of an electron and an electron hole. Typically, excitons are created when electrons interact with light, and they are able to transport energy without conveying a charge. As a result, excitons play a role in determining the optical properties of semiconductors and capturing solar energy. Additionally, excitons can be manipulated by moiré superlattices, which Shi constructs.

In the paper on quadrupolar excitons, Shi's group constructed atomically thin superconductors known as transitional metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) with three different layers to form a trilayer moiré superlattice. This setup allowed for two dipolar excitons to create a superposition, a quantum state where they exist half in one space and half in another, and form quadripolar excitons.

"The quadrupolar excitons in the trilayer moiré superlattices use a new platform to manipulate excitons and electrons for new quantum states, which are critical for realizing quantum computing and quantum simulations," Shi said.

After Shi's group found that they could manipulate excitons in moiré superlattices, they investigated other potential functions. Typically, excitons in moiré superlattices are locked in one place, but they wanted to see if they could make excitons interact through superposition.

"One route is to realize the so-called superposition of moiré excitons, which is a new quantum state, saying that the exciton is half at one site but half at the other," Shi said. "You cannot determine where they are, only the probability, which is the essence of quantum mechanics. If we can do that, that is also a new way for quantum computing with the moiré exciton as the qubit, as well as a way to construct a new quantum state."

In the paper on exciton superposition, Shi's group created a trilayer WSe 2 and a monolayer WS 2 moiré superlattice where the excitons could interact through the third layer WSe 2 , away from the interface. Now that Shi knows how to make excitons interact through this kind of superlattice, he can investigate what other possibilities the materials have.

Shi plans to collaborate with other researchers at Carnegie Mellon to expand the materials he works with and fabricates. He is particularly excited to work with theorists and experimentalists investigating condensed matter physics.

"On my first day, Professor Ben Hunt stopped me, and then we talked for over an hour," Shi said. "He showed me his lab, and some of the things we can start working on together."

Shi will begin teaching experimental physics in the spring of 2024 and hopes to develop further courses on quantum physics and optical spectroscopy.

Scott Dodelson , professor and department head of physics, said that Shi and his work will have a significant impact for MCS.

"Sufei is both a superb scientist and superb team player," Dodelson said. "Students who take his courses or who work in his lab will benefit from the experience. Colleagues who interact with him will become better than the sum of their parts."

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• Perspective
• Published: 06 October 2022

Citation inequity and gendered citation practices in contemporary physics

• Erin G. Teich   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0001-7553-7054 1 ,
• Jason Z. Kim   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-3970-4561 1 ,
• Christopher W. Lynn 2 , 3 ,
• Samantha C. Simon 4 ,
• Andrei A. Klishin   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-5740-8520 1 ,
• Karol P. Szymula 5 ,
• Pragya Srivastava 1 ,
• Lee C. Bassett   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0001-8729-1530 6 ,
• Perry Zurn 7 ,
• Jordan D. Dworkin 8 , 9 &
• Dani S. Bassett   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-6183-4493 1 , 4 , 6 , 10 , 11 , 12  

Nature Physics volume  18 ,  pages 1161–1170 ( 2022 ) Cite this article

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• Characterization and analytical techniques

The under-attribution of women’s contributions to scientific scholarship is well known and well studied. One measure of this under-attribution is the citation gap between men and women: the under-citation of papers authored by women relative to expected rates coupled with an over-citation of papers authored by men relative to expected rates. Here we explore this citation gap in contemporary physics. We find a global bias wherein papers authored by women are significantly under-cited, and papers authored by men are significantly over-cited. Moreover, we find that citation behaviour varies along several dimensions, such that imbalances differ according to who is citing, where they are citing and what they are citing. Specifically, citation imbalance in favour of man-authored papers is highest for papers authored by men, papers published in general physics journals and papers for which citing authors probably have less domain or author familiarity. Our results suggest that although deciding which papers to cite is an individual choice, the cumulative effects of these choices needlessly harm a subset of scholars. We discuss several strategies for the mitigation of these effects, including conscious behavioural changes at the individual, journal and community levels.

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Data availability

The data generated and analysed for this study are available in an Open Science Framework repository and can be accessed at https://osf.io/p5cb7/ .

Code availability

The code used to generate Figs. 1–5 can be accessed at https://osf.io/p5cb7/ , and the code used for the data processing and analyses presented in this study can be accessed at https://github.com/jdwor/gendercitation .

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Acknowledgements

We thank S. Loman for helpful discussions. E.G.T, L.C.B. and D.S.B. are supported by the National Science Foundation Materials Research Science and Engineering Center at University of Pennsylvania (NSF grant number DMR-1120901). J.Z.K. is supported by a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship. C.W.L. is supported by a James S. McDonnell Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship. S.C.S. acknowledges support from the University Scholars programme at the University of Pennsylvania. P.S. is supported by the Swartz Foundation. P.Z. and D.S.B also acknowledge support from the Center for Curiosity.

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Teich, E.G., Kim, J.Z., Lynn, C.W. et al. Citation inequity and gendered citation practices in contemporary physics. Nat. Phys. 18 , 1161–1170 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41567-022-01770-1

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Nicholas Kristof

The Case for Saying ‘I Do’

By Nicholas Kristof

Opinion Columnist

With little notice, the United States may be crossing a historic milestone in family structure, one that may shape our health, wealth and happiness.

Historically, most American adults were married — more than two-thirds as recently as 1970. But the married share has crept downward , and today only about half of adults are married. Depending on the data source, we may already have entered an epoch in which a majority are not married.

“Our civilization is in the midst of an epochal shift, a shift away from marriage,” Brad Wilcox, a sociologist who directs the National Marriage Project at the University of Virginia, writes in his new book, “ Get Married .” “In place of marriage, many Americans are remaining single or simply living together without wedding rings. And to be clear, it’s more of the former than the latter.”

Wilcox believes that perhaps a third of today’s young Americans will never marry. As a long-married romantic myself, I find that troubling, but it’s not just soggy sentimentality. Survey data indicates that married couples on average report more happiness, build more wealth, live longer and raise more successful children than single parents or cohabiting couples, though there are plenty of exceptions.

“Fixing what ails America starts with renewing marriage and family life, especially in poor and working-class communities where the fabric of family life is weakest,” Wilcox argues.

He’s up against a counter view that one should dodge family responsibilities, relish freedom and play hard. Many boys and men flock to the online rantings of Andrew Tate , the misogynistic influencer facing human trafficking charges, who has argued, “There is zero advantage to marriage in the Western world for a man.”

Some women have likewise celebrated freeing themselves from an institution that often shackled them to cooking, laundry and second-class status at a cost to their careers. As women have enjoyed more economic opportunities, they’re less often forced to marry some oaf who gets violent after a few drinks — and, anyway, what self-respecting woman with independent means would want to marry, say, a fan of Andrew Tate?

Yet even as marriage has receded, the evidence has grown that while it isn’t for everyone, in many cases it can improve our lives more than we may appreciate.

“Marriage predicts happiness better than education, work and money,” Wilcox writes. For example, survey data indicates that getting a college degree increases the odds of describing oneself as “very happy” by 64 percent. Earning a solid income lifts the odds by 88 percent. Being “very satisfied” with one’s job raises them by 145 percent. And marriage increases the odds of being very happy by 151 percent — while a “very happy” marriage boosts the odds by 545 percent.

I’ve long been interested in family structure for two reasons. First, I believe the left made a historic mistake by demonizing the Moynihan Report, which 59 years ago this month warned about the consequences of family breakdown. Daniel Patrick Moynihan was prescient, for we now know that households headed by single mothers are five times as likely to live in poverty as those with married couples.

Second, loneliness and social isolation are growing problems. One poignant example: Perhaps 100,000 or more dead bodies in America go unclaimed each year, often because there are no loved ones to say farewell. It’s a topic explored in another recent book, “The Unclaimed,” by sociologists Pamela Prickett and Stefan Timmermans.

Marriage doesn’t solve loneliness and social isolation, but it helps. And there is good news on the family front: The divorce rate has dropped to a 50-year low , and the share of children raised in an intact family with married parents has increased slightly in recent years. Today about 51 percent of American kids reach adulthood with the same two parents they started out with.

But it’s also true that the marriage rate has collapsed, particularly for working-class Americans. Of those without a high school diploma, more than two-thirds are unmarried.

Wilcox writes that “the American heart is closing,” but I wouldn’t put it that way. I think many Americans want to marry but don’t feel sufficiently financially stable, or they can’t find the right person.

I’m staggered by the interest in virtual boyfriends and virtual girlfriends. One virtual boyfriend app offers an assortment of possibilities such as “polite and intelligent Edward” or “romantic and cute Daniel.”

“Don’t be shy, he’ll definitely like you,” the app advises. “He knows how to cheer you up, so you won’t feel sad or lonely.”

Just reading that makes me achingly sad. Virtual mates feel like an elegy for civilization.

One reason for the decline in marriage in working-class communities may be a lack of economic opportunity, particularly for men, and another may be culture and changing norms. That’s worth pondering. In polls, majorities of college-educated liberals seem diffident about marriage, unwilling to criticize infidelity and disagreeing with the idea that children do better with two married parents. Perhaps this liberal lack of enthusiasm for marriage also accounts for the marriage penalties built into benefit programs like Medicaid, in turn disincentivizing marriage for low-income Americans.

Wilcox scolds elites for clinging to traditional values themselves — in the sense that they get married and have kids for the most part — even as they are reluctant to endorse marriage for fear of seeming judgmental or intolerant. Elites “talk left but walk right,” he says.

We are social animals, Aristotle noted more than two millenniums ago, and it’s still true. Spouses can be exasperating (as my wife can attest), but they also can cuddle, fill us with love and connect us to a purpose beyond ourselves. They are infinitely better, for us and for society, than virtual lovers on an app, and that seems worth celebrating openly.

Update: I have the final figures for my 2023 holiday giving guide , so I owe readers a follow-up and a “thank you.” More than 5,400 readers contributed a total of $7.2 million to the three nonprofits I recommended , and here’s what the donations will mean in practical terms: 12,150 girls in rural Africa will be supported for a year of high school through Camfed ; 1,645 young people in the United States will be supported for a year of instruction and mentoring to succeed in college or technical school through OneGoal ; and 4,218 low-income Americans will get free training in information technology through Per Scholas so that they can start better-paying careers in the tech world. All three organizations do excellent work. In addition, 671 readers volunteered to help refugees settle in the United States through my recommended volunteer opportunity, Welcome.US . Thanks so much to all who donated and volunteered: People are benefiting here and abroad from your generosity.

The Times is committed to publishing a diversity of letters to the editor. We’d like to hear what you think about this or any of our articles. Here are some tips . And here’s our email: [email protected] .

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Nicholas Kristof became a columnist for The Times Opinion desk in 2001. He has won two Pulitzer Prizes, for his coverage of China and of the genocide in Darfur. @ NickKristof