Uploaded December 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Nina Power: from ‘leftist liberal’ to defender of marriage
Dear marriage supporter,
Philosopher and writer Nina Power sat down with me to talk about men, marriage and faith in our latest video conversation. She describes her journey “from being a kind of leftist liberal” to marrying in her 40s. You can watch the full discussion on the C4M YouTube channel here.
In our discussion, Nina leaves no doubt where she now stands. On the topic of marriage, she says, “I fully support your project and I agree with you about the social science literature… Everything I’ve read and reviewed – and I’ve reviewed quite a few books about this – does point indeed to the superiority of two parent marriage and the longevity of marriage for the benefit of children”.
Nina also tackles the way many in wider culture now talk about men. She reflects on her father, brother, husband, male friends and colleagues and concludes: “This demonisation of men is simply not true and as such must be confronted”. The conversation ranges over fatherlessness, gangs, the search for substitute fathers and the damage done when boys and young men are treated as a problem rather than as potential husbands and fathers. It also touches on the loss of proper boundaries in a sexualised culture, returning to a line from her book that “private lives are called that for a reason”.
Nina’s book, What Do Men Want?, has attracted serious attention across the spectrum. Considering what men desire, her answer is simple and humane: “forms of love and recognition”. She goes on to say respect, responsibility and a sense of worth as husbands and fathers also feature strongly.
Marriage itself is never far from view for Nina. Early in the discussion the point is made that “there is a qualitative difference between a religious marriage ceremony and a secular civil marriage”. Later, Nina notes that “if one marries in a church in the eyes of God, you are also making a covenant with God not just with the other person, and this takes it out of the realm of the everyday agreement or contract”. She winsomely shares her testimony of how she got to that point.
C4M supporters come from all faiths and none, united simply by the belief that lifelong, faithful marriage between one man and one woman is the gold standard for children, adults and wider society. This conversation shows how someone who once assumed she would never marry now sees that more clearly than ever. Please do take a few minutes to watch and, if you find it helpful, to pass it on to others who care about men, women and marriage.
If you’re not yet supporting C4M financially but would like to help, please click the donate button at c4m.org.uk
Dr Tony Rucinski
facebook.com/coalition4marriage
Nina Power: from ‘leftist liberal’ to defender of marriage
Dear marriage supporter,
Philosopher and writer Nina Power sat down with me to talk about men, marriage and faith in our latest video conversation. She describes her journey “from being a kind of leftist liberal” to marrying in her 40s. You can watch the full discussion on the C4M YouTube channel here.
In our discussion, Nina leaves no doubt where she now stands. On the topic of marriage, she says, “I fully support your project and I agree with you about the social science literature… Everything I’ve read and reviewed – and I’ve reviewed quite a few books about this – does point indeed to the superiority of two parent marriage and the longevity of marriage for the benefit of children”.
Nina also tackles the way many in wider culture now talk about men. She reflects on her father, brother, husband, male friends and colleagues and concludes: “This demonisation of men is simply not true and as such must be confronted”. The conversation ranges over fatherlessness, gangs, the search for substitute fathers and the damage done when boys and young men are treated as a problem rather than as potential husbands and fathers. It also touches on the loss of proper boundaries in a sexualised culture, returning to a line from her book that “private lives are called that for a reason”.
Nina’s book, What Do Men Want?, has attracted serious attention across the spectrum. Considering what men desire, her answer is simple and humane: “forms of love and recognition”. She goes on to say respect, responsibility and a sense of worth as husbands and fathers also feature strongly.
Marriage itself is never far from view for Nina. Early in the discussion the point is made that “there is a qualitative difference between a religious marriage ceremony and a secular civil marriage”. Later, Nina notes that “if one marries in a church in the eyes of God, you are also making a covenant with God not just with the other person, and this takes it out of the realm of the everyday agreement or contract”. She winsomely shares her testimony of how she got to that point.
C4M supporters come from all faiths and none, united simply by the belief that lifelong, faithful marriage between one man and one woman is the gold standard for children, adults and wider society. This conversation shows how someone who once assumed she would never marry now sees that more clearly than ever. Please do take a few minutes to watch and, if you find it helpful, to pass it on to others who care about men, women and marriage.
If you’re not yet supporting C4M financially but would like to help, please click the donate button at c4m.org.uk
Dr Tony Rucinski
facebook.com/coalition4marriage
