Defense of Marriage Act
Introduction
Within our society and the western hemisphere, it is believed that only a man and a woman should be allowed to participate in the sacred ritual of marriage. These beliefs are instilled through the socialization of society and family. Our society illustrates marriage through the media. Our family illustrates marriage by first hand experience. In a traditional family, we perceive a man and a woman as our parents. Traditionally, people marry with the expectation that reproduction will occur, and one will grow old along side of children, and grandchildren. There is an image to marriage, and the thought of altering that to include same sex unions is disturbing to many.
Gay or same sex marriages have a negative connotation in our society and many others across the globe. Same sex marriage is seen as sinful, or against the laws of nature to many people in the western hemisphere, especially in the U.S. The debate on gay or same sex marriages in the United States has produced an enormous amount of attention. To legalize same-sex marriages, or at least recognize civil unions is recently the hot topic of debate for the state, legislation, and federal governments. The following states, Vermont, Massachusetts, Hawaii, and California have recently recognized same sex marriages under the label of “civil unions” in lieu of complying with DOMA. The Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) introduced on May 7, 1996 does two things. First, it ensures that no State shall be required to give effect to a law or any other State without respect to a same sex marriage. Secondly, it defines the word “marriage” and “spouse” for the purpose of Federal and to eliminate lope-holes. It was a bill passed to define and protect the institution of marriage.
Historical Content on Same Sex Marriage
Between 1990 and 2000 Hawaii and Vermont addressed the issue of legalizing same sex marriages. However, in 1996 the U.S. Federal Constitution mandated the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) “which was created to keep any state from acknowledging same sex marriages” (Kranz & Cusick, 2000, p. 12). DOMA stated, "No state is required to give effect to any public act, record, or judicial proceeding of another such organization with respect to a relationship between persons of the same sex that is treated as a marriage under the laws of such other organizations or a ...
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...they are true to their faith. Society will always have prejudices towards others the government is promoting this prejudice against homosexual people. I feel that if the government chooses not to grant the right for these individuals to be married then it can at least create an amendment to solely describe civil unions. Many of these partners are dedicated to building a life with their companions. They deserve the same benefits and security that heterosexual couples are entitled to.
References
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Gomes, C. (Nov/Dec 2003). Partners as parents: Challenges faced by gay denied marriage. Humanist. (63)6, (p. 14-20).
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Kranz R. & Cusick T. (2000). Library in a Book; Gay Rights. New York, NY: Facts on File.
Mohr, D. R. 1994). A More Perfect Union. Boston, MA: Beacon Press.
Stewart, C. (2003). Gay and Lesbian Issues. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC CILO.
Abstract On June 26, 2015 a divided Supreme Court ruled in the landmark case Obergefell v. Hodges that same-sex couples could now marry nationwide. At the time of the split ruling there were 9 supreme court justices, 5 of the justices were Republicans, and the remaining 4 were Democrats. In high profile cases, it is expected that the justices will vote along party lines. When the 5-4 ruling was revealed, the following statement. “It would misunderstand these men and women to say they disrespect the idea of marriage.
One of the most horrible things that has erupted from the subjugation of women is rape culture. Rape culture is the downplaying of the crime of rape to appease the violator, the accusation that the victim made a choice that led to their rape, or even jokes that suggest rape. According to Jessica Valenti’s, “In Rape Tragedies, the Shame Is Ours,” in today's world many people give in to rape culture by participating in these acts that somehow change our mindsets into believing that, “it is more shameful to be raped than to be a rapist”. Once ...
Koss, Mary P. “Rape is a Serious Problem.” 2000. Sexual Violence: Opposing Viewpoints. Comp. Helen Cothran. Farmington Hills: Greenhaven Press, 2003. 64-72. Print.
Society needs to start taking responsibility for the actions of its people. Rape is very real, and is a major problem in America. The existence of rape culture needs to be recognized and combated to make the world safer for everyone. Rather than teaching boys not to rape, and girls not to get raped, it’s time to teach everyone to value each other.
“Rape culture” is the society where jokes, TV, music, advertising, laws, words and imagery make violence against women and sexual coercion seem so normal that people believe that rape is inevitable. In modern-day America, sexual advances, both warranted and unwarranted, are constantly glorified through pop culture. Through song lyrics, music videos, choreography and clothing, women are portraye...
Eighteen million women and three million men. These are the numbers of women and men that have been raped at some point in their lives. (Tjaden & Thoennes, 2006.) Many advocates would say this is proof that we are living in a “rape culture”. A label coined by second wave feminists in the 1970’s, in response to the on-going prevalence of rape in the United Sates. Over the years, there have been many definitions of rape culture, but for the sake of the research paper, rape culture will be defined as a society where sexual violence is normalized. If you’ve ever heard of the responses: “She asked for it.” “He didn’t mean to.” “She wanted it.” “It wasn’t really rape.” “She’s clearly lying.” This is what a rape culture conditions us as a society to think or even verbalize when a story of sexual assault or rape is presented. Conversely, other advocates and feminists recoil at the use of the label “rape culture” because of what the label institutes about our society or progressions we’ve made in trying to eradicate
...(2004, May 24). The Rise of the Gay Family. U.S. News & World Report, p. 40.
Whether a created family is from previous heterosexual relationships, artificial insemination, or adoption, it deserves the same legal rights heterosexual families enjoy. Full adoption rights needs to be legalized in all states to provide a stable family life for children because sexual orientation does not determine parenting skills, children placed with homosexual parents have better well-being than those in foster care, and there are thousands of children waiting for good homes. The argument sexual orientation interferes with ones parenting skills is common belief that Charlotte J. Patterson identifies as myth in her work, Lesbian and Gay Parents and their Children, suggesting the belief that “lesbians’ and gay men’s relationships with sexual partners leave little time for ongoing parent–child interactions.” In the Who is Mommy tonight? case study, how 18 lesbian adoptive parents, 49 lesbian parents who formed their families biologically, and 44 heterosexual adoptive parents experience and perceive their parenting role, how they respond when their children seek them or their partner for particular nurturing, and how the parents negotiate the cultural expectation of a primary caregiver (Ciano-Boyce & Shelley-Sireci, 2002) is looked at.
Heather Wilhelm’s article titled “The Rape Culture Lie,” is a highly opinionated work that dismisses rape cultures existence, while portraying it as a concept that stems from the historical misconception on the relevance of sex as a deep and intimate part of life. She does not argue that rape is not a big deal, but instead offers an overlooked perspective on rape in society. Wilhelm notes, “But the perpetrator, ironically, isn’t a massive, oppressive ‘rape culture’. It’s the ‘sex means nothing’
Rape can be seen anywhere in our culture. Not only in media, such as television or social networks, but in everyday conversation. The phrase, “That test raped me” gets thrown around at the drop of a hat (4a). Countless internet memes are made at the expense of women s...
As discussed in my exploratory paper over the possibility of a rape culture existing in the U.S., the conversations surrounding this idea often splits feminists (and other advocates) over the label’s legitimacy. The general consensus of the debate surrounding rape culture seems to rest on two sides: some feminists believe we have aspects of society that normalize sexual violence, particularly rape, while other advocates and feminists believe that while the U.S. has barriers to overcome in decreasing sexual violence, rape culture is an exaggerated way to label those barriers. In my research, my loudest proponent of a rape culture existing in the U.S. is Kate Harding, whose book Asking for It: Slut-Shaming, Victim-Blaming, and How We Can Change
Homosexuality is becoming more and more accepted and integrated into today’s society, however, when it comes to homosexuals establishing families, a problem is posed. In most states, homosexuals can adopt children like any other married or single adult. There are many arguments to this controversial topic; some people believe that it should be legal nationally, while others would prefer that is was banned everywhere, or at least in their individual states. There are logical reasons to allow gays to adopt children, but for some, these reasons are not enough. The main issue really is, what is in the best interest of the child? This type of problem isn’t really one with causes, effects, and solutions, but one with pros and cons. Like any other adoption situation, a parent prove themselves to be responsible and capable enough to raise a child on their own, or with a spouse.
Many of the attitudes, beliefs, and mistaken ideas about rape have been with us for centuries. By looking at myths, such as “women ask for it,” and “women secretly enjoy rape,” from a historical perspective, can lead us for better understanding how they evolved. Much stems back to the idea that women are still seen as the property of men, and are protected as such. Men and women are still taught to occupy very different roles in today’s world. Men a...
As such, the news should be held to some degree of responsibility about the way that it reports information. In a study conducted by Ardovini-Brooker and Caringella-McDonald (2002), it was discovered that the media contributes to the myth that certain circumstances – clothing, alcohol consumption, dating strangers – are reasons why a person is raped. This puts the blame on the victim as if her actions provoked the rape or that she asked for it. In addition, the authors found that the news reports rape as if the victim is responsible for proving there was a lack of consent and a rape occurred, yet no other crime involving a victim is reported in the same way (Ardovini-Brooker & Caringella-McDonald
Azizan, H 2010, ‘Rape, a growing statistic’, Star, 1 August, viewed 24 February 2014, < http://www.thestar.com.my/story.aspx/?file=%2f2010%2f8%2f1%2fnation%2f6775682&sec=nation>.