Most people in the modern world have been raised in functional families where they lived with both of their parents. Before these people grow up to become adults, they hope that one day they will have spouses and build beautiful families. Unfortunately, this is usually not the case as marriage becomes impossible for some people. On the other hand, there are those people who have functional marriages and do not consider such relationships to be vexed.. This essay tries to do a comparison and contrast of the institution of marriage as depicted by two authors. These authors are Waite and Gallagher in ‘The Case for Marriage’ and Brady’s ‘Why I Want a Wife’.
It is evident that both readings recognize the importance of marriage to people in the modern world. This
…show more content…
It’s just the way the two texts present the issues but when analyzed strongly, they address the same issue. For example, Brady’s article presents the problem of unfairness and inequality in marriage. The second article encourages people to hold on to marriage and gives them data that marriage works. Obviously, if there was no problem, then there would be no reason to encourage the readers to be committed to marriage.
Indeed, there are clear differences in the two texts including the styles in which the two are written. Firstly, Brady’s text indirectly questions the value of marriage especially to a woman. In the beginning of the text, Brady declares that she needs a wife in her life. The tone that she takes is evidently sarcastic to men and even at the end she poses the question that who would not want to have a wife. The details given in the text could be the true representation of
3
the role of men and women. Brady is of the view that women are abused and even forced to shutter their dreams in order for men to improve theirs. In the text, she also suggests that after the women have been forced to sacrifice their lives, men live them for new wives. She says, “When
While marriage is still quite alive, the rates are definitely declining. It is interesting to distinguish the qualities and characteristics of relationships between generations. At some point, marriage would succeed or fail depending on happiness and satisfaction of couples. Today, there is high expectation between couples. Arlene Skolnick talks about a few different topics one of them being “ For better and for Worst”. For this topic Arlene Skolnick talks about a sociologist Jesse Bernard argument that every marriage consists of two other marriages, his and hers, and how marriages typically favors men rather than the women. He sates that that the stresses that are experienced in a marriage come from expectations between the husband and wife. Anther topic Arlene Skolnick talks about is “Marriage is Movie, Not a Snapshot”. For this topic Arlene Skolnick talks a little about Heroclitis the ancient Greek philosopher saying of how “you can never step into the same river twice, because it is always moving” and how this is smaller to a marriage. Arlene Skolnick talks about a few different studies that where done over a short period of time demonstrating that families, marriages, and people can change over
... men. If women are unhappy in a marriage they should move on toward what pleases them. She also points out that women in the twentieth century hold their life in their hands and that there is not a single person out there that has full control of it. They should peruse to become equals of men because they are not the imprudent weaklings that should be obligated to fulfill a roll of subservience to men.
Is marriage really important? There is a lot of controversy over marriage and whether it is eminent. Some people believe it is and some people believe it is not. These opposing opinions cause this controversy. “On Not Saying ‘I do’” by Dorian Solot explains that marriage is not needed to sustain a relationship or a necessity to keep it healthy and happy. Solot believes that when a couple gets married things change. In “For Better, For Worse”, Stephanie Coontz expresses that marriage is not what is traditional in society because it has changed and is no longer considered as a dictator for people’s lives. The differences between these two essays are the author’s writing style and ideas.
Bill Cosby once said that, “For two people in a marriage to live together day after day is unquestionably the one miracle the Vatican has overlooked.” J.J. Lewis (1995-2009) This famous comedian could not have been more correct when recognizing that every marriage will face a multiple number of challenges and is often difficult. Couples, once married, must find a way to end any struggles in order for the marriage to be successful. Marital traditions have changed greatly over the centuries and due to this, the opinion of what an ‘ideal marriage” consists of has changed as well. When reviewing the document “On Love and Marriage” the author (a Merchant of Paris) believes that marriage should not be an equal partnership, but one that pleases the husband to avoid conflict. This can be clearly seen through an examination of: the social, and political environment of the late fourteenth century, and the merchant’s opinions on the area of obedience to a husband, and how to avoid infidelity.
Brady recognizes how much work women who are wives truly have to do. Brady highlights the fact that, “I want a wife who will work and send me to school.” This illustrates that the wife’s needs will come last. Since her husband requests to go to work, the wife is expected to get a job to support the family as well as take care of everything else. Instead of the husband assisting at home, with the housework and taking care of the kids, since he is not working anymore, the wife is still expected to do it. Ever since women were just little girls, they have been taught that it is
Both authors used symbolism to reflect their point of views on marriage, in The Story of
Brady uses men’s one sided opinions on women to reveal how much is expected of them, in particular, wives. She writes, “I want a wife who will take care of my physical needs” (Brady 252). Brady exhibits a mans point of view on what a wife is. Simply someone who caters to their needs before their own.
Inside the article “Why Marriage is Good for You”, Maggie Gallagher makes claims that marriage improves many facets of an individual’s life; including both mental and physical health, longevity, finances, and reduced chances of infidelity (Gallagher). The statements made throughout the article reference many statistics and studies conducted by various organizations and individuals, however, Gallagher falls victim to a number of common logical fallacies. While this weakens Gallagher’s argument in the article, it does not necessarily make it false.
The institution of marriage is treated differently between the two cultures. Marriage practices are not so important in the American culture, and couples are free to choose; to follow common or to choose a combination of practices. The Americans have not consistently followed their practices and customs and in some cases have adopted other practices. The American culture is not strong on the institution of marriage as it is for India. The current American society does not consider marriage institution; its importance comes after career and financial matters. This is evident in the way the society perceives marriages; marriages are secondary to career and financial matters. Americans can choose to divorce in order to pursue career of because of financial matters. The high rates of divorce also explain how the society views the institution of marriage. India considers the marriage institution as very important and should be treated with all respect by all in the society. The importance of the marriage institution is evident from the marriage practices that have remained consistent in the Indian cu...
This is the biggest difference between these two texts. It is the most common one too, it is noticed in the first paragraph or stanza in these
Marriage is a goal and achievement in today’s society because it is a sign of stability economically and emotionally. The functionalist perspective observes and tests what makes marriage work between two people, and how it affects society as a whole. It is the social norm for a person to get married between a certain age to create a bond for emotional stability. “Functionalist study how marriage fulfills the six basic functions to survive a society: economic production, socialization of children, care of the sick and aged, recreation, sexual control, and reproduction” (Marriage in Theoretical Perspective, n.d.). “These six basic functions are the consequences for the operation of society as a whole” (Moffitt, n.d.), and they help functionalist study marriage in a broad perspective to show how people become productive members of society as a whole.
With the beginning of the sentences stating “I want a wife”, the article has a little bit of a selfish tone that reveals husbands make their wives complete all the responsibilities around the house because they are not interested. Husbands back in the 1970’s and 1990’s expected their wives to cook, clean, and tend to the children. Brady takes these three tasks that sound fairly simple and exaggerates them to show the real struggles wives have to endure. She goes in depth with the chores, for example she includes, “...arrange to lose time at work and not lose her job…”, “... type my paper…”, “...takes care of the needs of my guests…”, and even after she has a hard long day she still has to be “... sensitive to my sexual needs…” Brady implies that a wife’s job never ends, from the moment she wakes up to the moment she goes to sleep, she has to tend to and please
The legal relationship, which comes out from a contract by which, ‘one man and one woman’ who have the ability to enter into such a union, promised to live together, take care of each other in the relation of ‘husband and wife in law for life until the legal termination of that relationship’ is defined as marriage. Marriage also may be defined as a legal union between ‘one man and one woman’ as husband and wife entering into contract changes the status of both parties in giving new rights and obligation. Traditionally, marriage has been viewed as creation of a family and vital to protection of morals and civilization. That is, the traditional principle founded from the marriage is that, the husband has the obligation to support his wife, provide a safe house, pay the necessities such as food, clothing, and to live together with the wife. The wife’s obligation entailed maintaining a home, having sexual relations with her husband and rearing the couple’s children.
The reason she wants people to read it is because she wants people to understand that the roles of women is demoralizing to them. Brady classifies what a wife is through husband's eyes. Brady connects wit and sarcasm, effective use of language, and rhetoric to make a very strong piece of influential writing with the purpose to show how men see their wives. This piece of rhetoric ultimately implies the husband's selfishness and laziness, and his want to be "left free". This article was made to make the audience to think and
Now obviously in 2017 it is different, women don’t let men tell them what to do; but back in the 1970’s it was a huge problem for women. It was published again in the 1990’s where women were still being pushed to do all the households, this is probably where women started to say no. But Brady’s purpose for writing this was to stop men from treated