Wait a second!
More handpicked essays just for you.
More handpicked essays just for you.
essays benefits of marriage
positive effect of marriage
the role of marriage in society
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
Recommended: essays benefits of marriage
Ryan T. Anderson discusses the legal status of same-sex relationships in his article “In defense of traditional marriage” (2013). He contends that marriage is defined historically, socially and legally as existing between a man and a woman and should remain so defined for the benefit of society. Anderson is correct in his historical interpretation of marriage; yet present day usage would imply that the definition of marriage is undergoing a social change which should be reflected in the law. The premises Anderson puts forth are not new. For the most part they are steeped in as much tradition as the notion of marriage itself. Initially, he argues that marriage is one of the primary ingredients in civilization. It is so integral to society that all other enlightenment rests on its bulk. Additionally, he stresses that same-sex couples already have protection for basic civil rights but that legalizing gay marriage would amount to adding new civil rights – the ability to have the government recognize their marriage - to those already in existence. Marriage, as Anderson defines it, exists solely for the benefit of bearing and raising children. Those children fare better when raised by both a mother and a father, thus, marriage also protects the happiness and prosperity of future generations. Additionally, marriage acts as a social incentive to commit to a lasting relationship, again, ensuring happy, healthy children. The second half of Anderson’s argument relates to his premise that marriage is for dual-sex couples only. He offers 41 states that legally define marriage in this way as proof to his way of thinking. Furthermore, every marriage policy draws a line excluding one type of couple or another from marrying. This... ... middle of paper ... ...-traditional-marriage/2013/03/20/dl9a0c08-915a-11e2bdea-e32ad90da239_story.html Dictionary.com (2013). Retrieved from http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/marriage Hanna, C. (2011). STATE CONSTITUTIONAL DECISION-MAKING AND PRINCIPLES OF EQUALITY: REVISITNG BAKER V. STATE AND THE QUESTION OF GENDER IN THE MARRIAGE EQUALITY DEBATE. Albany Law Review, 74(4), 1681-1700 Johnston, R. (2013). Marriage and the Metaphysics of Bodily Union: Framing the Same-Sex Marriage Debate. Social Theory and Practice, Vol. 39, No. 2 (April 2013): 288-312 DOI: 10.5840/soctheorpract201339216. Planita, C. (2014). For Better or for Worse: Will the Repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act Bring Couples Happiness? Journal of Financial Service Professionals, (January 2014). Procon.org (2014). Gay Marriage. Retrieved from http://gaymarriage.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=004857
This essay explores further changes that may lie ahead as same-sex marriage debates increasingly affect both family law and the convivial construal’s of marriage. Marriage as an institution has transmuted most dramatically because of the cumulative effects of the last half century of de-gendering family law. Same-sex marriage and perhaps even more so, the highly visible cultural debate over it is contributing to this process.
Same sex marriage may seem, to some, a crazy idea as marriage in this country is built on the foundation of a man and a woman marrying, but Sullivan points out that until recent centuries marriage was a contract into which a woman entered so that she would be controlled by her husba...
“Under our constitution, the freedom to marry, or not marry, a person of the other race resides with the individual and cannot be infringed by the states.” In 1967, Earl Warren led the Supreme Court when it was faced with choosing to support a state’s rights of having their own laws or equal protection of the laws granted to all citizens under the Constitution. The case of Loving v. Virginia was sent to the Supreme Court because Virginia, including 15 other states, enforced an anti-miscegenation statute, which disallowed marriage between white and black people. The court case was important then and continues to affect change in the twenty-first century.
Purpose is the goal of the author. Olsen’s goal was to convince conservatives the same-sex marriage fits with the ideal view of conservatives. As Olsen had put it, “Legalizing same-sex marriage would also be a recognition of basic American principles, and would represent the culmination of our nation’s commitment to
Bernstein, Mary. “The marriage contract.” Introducing the New Sexuality Studies: Second Edition. Ed. Steven Seidman, Nancy Fischer and Chet Meeks. New York: Routledge, 2011. 421-426. Print.
The first argument that caught my attention starts on page 96, where Warner warns us against the idea that marriage is just a “personal choice or an expression of taste.” He argues that this would only be true under two conditions: 1) when marriage lacks the privilege of legitimacy that makes people desire it, or 2) when the meaning of marriage is not tied to the state. It then continues to talk about the negative effects (specifically regulatory ones) that marriage has, such as sexual relationships outside of
Kennedy, Dorothy M., and Jane E. Aaron. "Gay “Marriage”: Societal Suicide." The Bedford Reader. By X. J. Kennedy. 11th ed. Boston: St. Martin’s, 2012. 576-578. Print.
Wolfson, Evan. Why Marriage Matters: America, Equality, and Gay People's Right to Marry. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2004. Print.
Waite and Gallagher’s (2001) book, The Case for Marriage: Why Married People are Happier, Healthier, and Better off Financially, is about the justification for the importance of marriage. The authors (2001) use research and controlled studies based on sociology, economics, medicine, psychology, sexology, and law, to address the issues of the anti-marriage debate and myths about marriage in modern American society. The authors use the finding from the research and studies to compose the effects and benefits of being married. According to Waite and Gallagher (2001) the marriage population is better off physically, mentally, economically, socially, and sexually compared to the single population, divorce population, cohabitation population, and same sex-couples populations. Waite and Gallagher (2001) first present the five myths about the post marriage culture war and then contribute their rebuttal for each myth
One of the most controversial issues around today is gay marriages. Many believe that the media is primly responsible for the idea of same-sex marriages, but when it all comes down to it there are really only two sides; those who support gay marriages, and those who oppose them. Two authors write their opinions on their opposite views on this issue. Sullivan (2002) supports same-sex marriages and believes marriage to be a universal right, not just restricted to heterosexuals. Contrary to Sullivan, Bennett (2002) believes that marriage is a sacred traditional family value that should be set aside for heterosexual couples. (2002)Throughout this essay, I will summarize both authors’ ideas and evaluate them through their evidence and styles.
While the authors disagree about the possible effects of this change in marriage, neither can accurately predict how it will affect issues unrelated to marriage. Opening the doors for marriage equality will either bring about greater freedom in many aspects of Americans’ lives or unlock the gates to a complete separation of morality and law
The institution of marriage has traditionally been defined as between a man and a woman. In the Oct. 15, 1971 decision Baker v. Nelson, the Supreme Court of Minnesota found that "The institution of marriage as a union of man and woman, uniquely involving the procreation(reproduction) and rearing(raising) of children within a family, is as old as the book of Genesis.” The idea that same-sex marriage is a civil rights issue is very misleading to many because technically it is far from it. The unifying characteristics of the protected classes within the Civil Rights Act of 1964 include (1) a history of longstanding, widespread discrimination, (2) economic disadvantage, and (3) unchangeable characteristics... 'Sexual orientation' does not meet any of the three objective criteria shared by the historically protected civil rights categories although the opinion that homosexuality is choice rather than a born trait is heavily debated. In recent decades, marriage has been weakened by a liberal view that is more about adults’ desires than children’s needs. Allowing gay marriage would only further shift the purpose of marriage from producing and raising children to adult gratification. Traditional marriage is already threatened with high divorce rates (between 40% and 50%) and with 40.6% of babies being born to unmarried mothers in 2008 according to National Statistics and the preliminary data for births in 2008. Allowing same-sex couples to marry would further weaken the institution. Sweden began offering same-sex couples benefits in 1987, followed by Denmark in 1989 and Norway in 1993. According to a Feb. 29, 2004 report by Stanley Kurtz, PhD, from 1990 to 2000, Norway's out-of-wedlock birthrate rose from 39% to 50% and Sweden's rose fro...
Marriage is a “socially recognized and approved union between individuals, who commit to one another with the expectations of a stable and lasting intimate relationship. It begins with a ceremony known as a wedding which formally unites marriage partners. A marital relationship usually involves some kind of contract, either written or specified by tradition, which defines the partners’ rights and obligations to each other, to any children they may have, and to their relatives. In most contemporary industrialized societies, marriage is certified by the government,” (Skolnick, 2005). Marriage is also an important institution because of the impact it has on society. Marriage is the main way that reproduction of human life occurs. In some societies it is tradition for family heirlooms or things of value be passed on through marriage. Marriage also serves as a healthy way to have intimate relationships with an individual. In most places a marriage exists between two people of the opposite sex. However, the legal definition of marriage is currently being challenged by many. According to Skolnick’s article a marriage can be defined by responsibilities that a couple would share, some examples are: living together, having sexual relations, sharing money and financial responsibilities, and having a child together. The issue is that homosexual couples can do these things like heterosexual couples.
Traditional marriage is often seen as the union of man and woman through the church, but aren’t traditions changed as society evolves? Many detractors argue that the sanctity of marriage is threatened with homosexual marriage or that the m...
Wolfson, Evan. (1999). Winning and Keeping the Freedom to Marry for Same-Sex Couples. Partners Task Force for Gay and Lesbian Couples. 26 paragraphs. Available: http://www.eskimo.com/~demian/wolfson1.html. [2000, May 22].