Hemmerling & Bryan Knowlton: The Definition Of Marriage

What is marriage? Marriage is defined in so many ways throughout the world. The Marriage and Family Experience textbook defines marriage as “the legally recognized union between a man and a woman in which economic cooperation, legitimate sexual interactions, and the rearing of children take place” (Strong & Cohen 2013). Marriage provides social status and emotional benefits to the family unit. There are a fraction of the reasons why marriage matters to couples who choose/desire to marry. In this century, marriage can be defined in so many ways. In the article about Brett Hemmerling & Bryan Knowlton demonstrates a different perspective of what marriage may mean. This article focuses on the marriage of two men instead of a union between man and woman

The article/announcement chosen for this assignment was accessed on the website of the New York Times which offers a variety of information. In this article many things can be found out about this couple which

relate to their religion, socio-economic status, race, ethnicity, age, and sex.

For example in terms of religion both the couple does not have a set faith. In the article it states that the couple’s friend became a Universal Life minister. For many that do not know what a Universal Life minister is, their website defines them as “The Universal Life Church Monastery (ULC) is a non-denominational, non-profit religious organization famous worldwide for its provision of free, legal ordinations to its vast membership over the internet. The ULC, recognizing the importance of maintaining open hearts and minds, embraces any individual, no matter his or her spiritual background, who wishes to become a member of this family of faith” ("Universal Life Church). By reading the article and viewing the photo posted with the article the couple can be identified as both male and one can

be identified as Caucasian and the other as Indian. In terms of education and socio-economic status both men are well educated and very successful the article states that both men attended college and that both maintain a very high job position. Mr. Hemmerling family comes from a very wealthy background, his father is a senior at a law firm. While Mr. Knowlton comes from a middle class family, his mother working as a teacher and presumable also being a single parent. As far as age is concerned Mr. Hemmerling is thirty-eight and Mr. Knowlton is thirty-four, they have successfully maintained a relationship/friendship for at least nine years. This couple is less likely to divorce because they are in the same socio-economic status and have similar beliefs.
Brett Hemmerling & Bryan Knowlton marriage or union can be analyzed from a sociological perspective which involves endogomy, homogamy, and residential propinquity. Endogamy relates to persons who “marry others from within their same large group” (Strong & Cohen 2013, p. 279). Which is particularly true in the relationship of Mr. Hemmerling and Mr. Knowlton, Mr. Hemmerling comes from a very wealthy background, but Mr.Knowlton has built himself toward success having a career in acting for about eighteen years.