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Contrast between cultures
What is the real meaning of marriage
Meaning and concept of marriage
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Introduction The conjugal definition of marriage focuses on the universal core functions of marriage, which includes control of sexual activity and the legitimisation of children. Within this definition three ideas can be used to explain it, namely, stable mated relationships, family and sexuality and cross cultural variation. This definition of marriage is stringent and does not leave room for the many types of marriages that exist. Analysis of the Definition The three ideas included in the definition of conjugal marriage formulate a more comprehensive definition that can be more easily understood. The first idea included in the definition is stable mated relationships. The idea of stable mated relationships is seen as the basis for marriage (Ember, et al., 1997). Basically, this idea means that the partnership of marriage creates a sharing of duties and the division of labour. The …show more content…
Firstly is the Nayar people of India. The Nayar people conduct pre-puberty marriages between a daughter and a chosen husband. The ritual husband would be from a linked lineage of the family. Once the ceremony has taken place the ritual husband has no further contact with his wife and would not father any children with her. The wife can however, see visiting husbands who would in turn father her children (Gough, 1993). This example of marriage does not follow the rules of conjugal marriage. The husband, after the ceremony is no longer in contact with the wife which means that they do not share duties. The sharing of duties is a corner stone of conjugal marriage. Another important aspect of conjugal marriage is that of control over sexual activity and legitimisation of children. The husband in this case does neither of these. He has no control over the sexual activity of his wife, nor can he claim any children that she has with her visiting
Rindfuss RR, VandenHeuvel A. 1990. Cohabitation: a precursor to marriage or an alternative to being single? Pop. Dev. Rev. 16:703 26
Conjugal view: marriage is the union of a man and a woman who make a permanent and exclusive commitment to each other that is naturally fulfilled by having and raising children together.
The definition of American family is based on the idea that a legally married couple shares a household, which has been considered as a male that provides the income and a female who is responsible for taking care of the husband, household and children. Even though, Maggie Gallagher in her essay the benefits of marriage in “Why marriage is good for you,” states that she is trying to promote the return to more traditional view of marriage within the society. However, there is a controversy that American family is experiencing changes in every aspect, being on decline as a consequence of three factors. First, more babies are born in extramarital relations, second, individualism of men and women including same sex couples, and third, the high rates of divorce.
Many people’s opinion on gay marriage is that same-sex marriage violates the “true” intentions of marriage, which “should” be between a man and a woman, but a more broad definition of marriage would be “(broadly) any of the diverse forms of interpersonal union established in various parts of the world to form a familial bond that is recognized legally, religiously, or socially, granting the participating partners mutual conjugal rights and responsibilities”
. "Marriage: Then And Now." National Forum 80.3 (2000): 10-13. Academic Search Complete. Web. 19 Apr. 2014.
They are: Marriage is inherently sexual, it is uniquely enriched by family life, and it uniquely requires permanent and exclusive commitment to begin at all (Girgis, p.3). In the conjugal definition, the three aforementioned characteristics are all present, yet in the inclusivist and revisionist view they are not. Girgis believes that accepting the inclusivist and revisionist views culturally entrenches a profound error about this human good, which will affect people’s choices and behavior in ways that harm the public good. Girgis also believes the combination of the three aforementioned characteristics are vital in describing how marriage can only be realized by a man and woman, which will be explained in the next
According to Clarkberg, Stolzenberg and Waite, from the University of Chicago, cohabitation is preferred over marriage by a specific group of people defined through their preferences in certain attitudes and values. According to this study, people chose to enter into either marriage or cohabitation depending on their views on procreation and relationships. However, the article also includes a study of peoples choice relying on views towards leisure time allotment, household labor division, employment, economic resources and relationships with immediate and extended family as well as with religion.
Some’s definition of Marriage is when two souls coming into one soul –still distinct but forming one entity. Being raised in the church, marriage is when two people come together, declaring their wedding vows to each other and to God. Marriage is
Tradition is a strong component in the institution of marriage. The ideal American dream usually involves the perfect fairy-tale wedding with the gorgeous white wedding dress for the bride, the matching bridesmaids, the well-arranged bouquet and the numerous rituals that compose this well thought-out event. Usually it requires a great amount of planning, devotion and dollars to make the important day memorable. Family and friends come together to rejoice in the vows that will bond the two lovers into a lifetime journey of love, commitment and fidelity. Each person in the couple is expected to have a role in this institution. According to Judith Wallerstein and Sandra Blakeslee, “in the idealized form of the older model of traditional marriage, the man’s primary job for self-definition is to provide for the economic well-being, protection, and stability of his family ...The woman’s job and self-definition”, on the other hand, continue Wallerstein and Blakeslee, “is to care for her husband and children and to create a comfortable home that nourishes everyone, particularly her husband, who comes home each evening drained by the demands of his job (211).” With a constantly changing society, the concept of marriage has also varied. The “quickie” Vegas drive-through wedding or the underwater vow exchange is not as unusual or shocking as it once was. Even the roles of the persons involved have changed to fit the shape of society’s needs. For example the modern “companionate marriage” which is “founded on the couple’s shared beliefs that men and women are equal partners in all spheres of life and that their roles, including those of marriage, are completely interchangeable (Wallerstein, Blakeslee 155).
This paper does not consider for a second that any marriage apart from one that fulfills these principles can be satisfying. There is a very strong implication that this is the proper form of marriage, and anything else is some sort of uninspiring deviancy. This is almost completely unsupported. He even concedes that romantic marriage forms the majority of marriages today in the west, but immediately denounces the romantic aspect of marriage. It is pretty easy to tear down his argument that this sho...
As a realistic part of the rights to liberty and the pursuit of happiness, freedom in one's domestic relationships is very important. The freedom to put together one's domestic relationships in ways that best fit one's needs, desires, and life is critical in one's pursuit of happiness. The importance of this freedom to arrange one's domestic relationships freely becomes understandable in versions of the "Defense of Marriage Act" (DOMA), which is proposed, and sometimes passed, on the national and state levels. DOMA legislation, in its different forms, limits the legal definition of marriage to the “legal union of a man and woman.” (Sullivan, 1976, DOMA Act, pg. 2)
Is cohabitation the right alternative to marriage? The increasing amounts or studies done in relation to cohabiting couples shows that this controversial topic is more common than most American’s think. Marriage used to be considered a defining event in a couple’s relationship, often marking the beginning of intimate relations, sharing a common household, and even childbearing. By definition, unmarried cohabitation is the status of couples who are sexual partners, not married to each other, and sharing a household (Popenoe). These two definitions seem to be similar in what each union reflects, but outwardly marriage includes a legal union that is meant to be a lifelong commitment. The meaning and permanence of marriage may be changing as cohabitation increases, (Casper 40) and this is in turn creating a society who is largely focused on self-fulfilling events, no commitment, and a lower understanding of what is best for our children. The research done regarding the effects cohabitation has on children, morality based on religious opinion, and the consequences of cohabitation explain why this growing change in society is wrong.
Marriage is termed as a legitimate commitment or social establishment which unites two people mutually as husband and wife. The agreement ascertains privileges and responsibilities amid spouses, spouses and children and spouses and in-laws. Marriage is deemed to be a momentous union in every society. It is significant in terms of providing security, emotional support and fulfilling economic, social, cultural and physical needs. These needs are the natural cravings of young adults that drive them towards matrimony. It is a foundation that is based on personal responsibilities which form the backbone of civilizations.
Sagade, Jaya. Child Marriage in India: Socio - Legal and Human Rights Dimensions. Oxford University Press: 2005 edition. Print.
Civil marriage is the way our society defines one's most intimate, committed relationships; it is the only vehicle our society has for recognizing the existence of primary relationships not defined by blood.