Christine Whelan
Encyclopedia
Christine Barrett Whelan (born July 5, 1977) is an author, journalist and commentator. She is the author of two books about marriage, and a forthcoming book of self-help for young-adults. She is a visiting assistant professor of Sociology at the University of Pittsburgh
.
to attorney Stephen T. Whelan and Dr. Elizabeth M. Whelan, an author and public public health specialist.
At eight years old, Whelan was the moderator for "No Kidding", a nationally syndicated health talk show for kids, by kids, produced by the American Council on Science and Health
.
, graduating magna cum laude with a degree in Politics. Whelan subsequently was awarded the 1999 Daniel M. Sachs scholarship and studied Economic and Social History at the University of Oxford
, from which she earned her masters and doctorate.
Whelan has held teaching positions in the Sociology department at the University of Iowa and in the Sociology and Politics departments at Princeton University. In 2009 she accepted a position with the Sociology department at the University of Pittsburgh.
. From 1997 through 2000, she interned at the Wall Street Journal in New York and Washington bureaus and in 2000 interned at the Washington Post. In 2008, Whelan was awarded a Templeton-Cambridge Journalism Fellowship.
Whelan's writing has appeared in the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, USA Today
, National Review Online and the Washington Post, among other publications. She also writes a bi-weekly relationship advice column for Busted Halo and contributes occasional pieces to The Huffington Post
.
in October 2006. In the book, Whelan coined the term SWANS, which stands for Strong Women Achievers, No Spouse.
Intended in part as a response to Maureen Dowd
's 2005 book Are Men Necessary? When Sexes Collide
, Whelan presented evidence contrary to the belief that an elite education and high income among women correlate with lower marriage rates. Using Census Bureau statistics, a commissioned poll of 3,700 men and women ages 25 to 40 and personal interviews, Whelan showed that while the stereotype was valid among previous generations, today a higher income and education in fact increases a woman's marriage chances, and that high-achieving women simply marry later in life.
Prior to conducting the research, Whelan originally intended for the book to be a pessimistic take on the marriage prospects of professional women, drawn from popular studies and personal experience. The book was initially conceived with the title Overqualified for Love.
Whelan's second book, Marry Smart: The Intelligent Woman's Guide to True Love, was published by Simon & Schuster on December 30, 2008. Whelan's third book, Generation WTF: From “What the #%$&” to a Wise, Tenacious, and Fearless You, will be published by Templeton Press in February 2011.
, Good Morning America
, and on national radio programs, including Iowa Public Radio
. Whelan is a frequent featured speaker at public events and academic conferences.
University of Pittsburgh
The University of Pittsburgh, commonly referred to as Pitt, is a state-related research university located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded as Pittsburgh Academy in 1787 on what was then the American frontier, Pitt is one of the oldest continuously chartered institutions of...
.
Early life
Whelan was born in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
to attorney Stephen T. Whelan and Dr. Elizabeth M. Whelan, an author and public public health specialist.
At eight years old, Whelan was the moderator for "No Kidding", a nationally syndicated health talk show for kids, by kids, produced by the American Council on Science and Health
American Council on Science and Health
The American Council on Science and Health is a nonprofit organization founded in 1978 by Dr. Elizabeth Whelan that produces peer-reviewed reports on issues related to food, nutrition, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, lifestyle, the environment and health...
.
Education
Whelan earned her undergraduate degree from Princeton UniversityPrinceton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
, graduating magna cum laude with a degree in Politics. Whelan subsequently was awarded the 1999 Daniel M. Sachs scholarship and studied Economic and Social History at the University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
, from which she earned her masters and doctorate.
Whelan has held teaching positions in the Sociology department at the University of Iowa and in the Sociology and Politics departments at Princeton University. In 2009 she accepted a position with the Sociology department at the University of Pittsburgh.
Journalism
As an undergraduate, Whelan was editor-in-chief of The Daily PrincetonianThe Daily Princetonian
The Daily Princetonian is the daily independent student newspaper of Princeton University. It is published five days a week from September to May and three days a week during the University's Reading Period in January and May.- Finances :...
. From 1997 through 2000, she interned at the Wall Street Journal in New York and Washington bureaus and in 2000 interned at the Washington Post. In 2008, Whelan was awarded a Templeton-Cambridge Journalism Fellowship.
Whelan's writing has appeared in the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, USA Today
USA Today
USA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. It was founded by Al Neuharth. The newspaper vies with The Wall Street Journal for the position of having the widest circulation of any newspaper in the United States, something it previously held since 2003...
, National Review Online and the Washington Post, among other publications. She also writes a bi-weekly relationship advice column for Busted Halo and contributes occasional pieces to The Huffington Post
The Huffington Post
The Huffington Post is an American news website and content-aggregating blog founded by Arianna Huffington, Kenneth Lerer, and Jonah Peretti, featuring liberal minded columnists and various news sources. The site offers coverage of politics, theology, media, business, entertainment, living, style,...
.
Publishing
Whelan's first book, Why Smart Men Marry Smart Women, was published by Simon & SchusterSimon & Schuster
Simon & Schuster, Inc., a division of CBS Corporation, is a publisher founded in New York City in 1924 by Richard L. Simon and M. Lincoln Schuster. It is one of the four largest English-language publishers, alongside Random House, Penguin and HarperCollins...
in October 2006. In the book, Whelan coined the term SWANS, which stands for Strong Women Achievers, No Spouse.
Intended in part as a response to Maureen Dowd
Maureen Dowd
Maureen Bridgid Dowd is a Washington D.C.-based columnist for The New York Times and best-selling author. During the 1970s and the early 1980s, she worked for Time magazine and the Washington Star, where she covered news as well as sports and wrote feature articles...
's 2005 book Are Men Necessary? When Sexes Collide
Are Men Necessary? When Sexes Collide
Are Men Necessary? When Sexes Collide is a book written by American author and The New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd. It received a torrent of criticism and created controversy regarding classic problems facing women balancing careers and families....
, Whelan presented evidence contrary to the belief that an elite education and high income among women correlate with lower marriage rates. Using Census Bureau statistics, a commissioned poll of 3,700 men and women ages 25 to 40 and personal interviews, Whelan showed that while the stereotype was valid among previous generations, today a higher income and education in fact increases a woman's marriage chances, and that high-achieving women simply marry later in life.
Prior to conducting the research, Whelan originally intended for the book to be a pessimistic take on the marriage prospects of professional women, drawn from popular studies and personal experience. The book was initially conceived with the title Overqualified for Love.
Whelan's second book, Marry Smart: The Intelligent Woman's Guide to True Love, was published by Simon & Schuster on December 30, 2008. Whelan's third book, Generation WTF: From “What the #%$&” to a Wise, Tenacious, and Fearless You, will be published by Templeton Press in February 2011.
Public appearances
Whelan has frequently appeared as an expert commentator on television news programs, including The NewsHour with Jim LehrerThe NewsHour with Jim Lehrer
PBS NewsHour is an evening television news program broadcast weeknights on the Public Broadcasting Service in the United States. The show is produced by MacNeil/Lehrer Productions, a company co-owned by former anchors Jim Lehrer and Robert MacNeil, and Liberty Media, which owns a 65% stake in the...
, Good Morning America
Good Morning America
Good Morning America is an American morning news and talk show that is broadcast on the ABC television network; it debuted on November 3, 1975. The weekday program airs for two hours; a third hour aired between 2007 and 2008 exclusively on ABC News Now...
, and on national radio programs, including Iowa Public Radio
Iowa Public Radio
Iowa Public Radio is a state network in the U.S. state of Iowa that combines the operations of current Public Radio stations run by Iowa State University, the University of Iowa, and University of Northern Iowa...
. Whelan is a frequent featured speaker at public events and academic conferences.