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Marriage

Marriage is a legal, economic, domestic, and/or mating relationship. Marriage is defined and practiced in diverse ways in different parts of the world. Culture, religion, values, economics, and changes through history have affected the way marriage is understood. As marriage has become a political entity, there are diverse beliefs about the utility of marriage. The dissolution and effects of ending the marriage contract have an impact for the many people involved. Frequently, marriage is understood to be a prerequisite for having and raising children, thereby symbolizing the beginning of the developing mother or father roles.

Historical Views of Marriage

Research on marriage suggests that in ancient Roman and Greek cultures, marriage was not just a personal relationship, but grounded in an economic arrangement between two families. Thus, marriages were often arranged by the parents of the couple in order to secure some level of economic advantage. Women in marriages had fewer rights than men and were expected to be subservient to their husbands. Old English meanings of the term husband refer to themes like master of the house, manager of the household, or male partner in a marriage. Wife is the term used to refer to a female partner in a marriage; however, it is believed to originally mean woman, or in some contexts, veiled women. The terms spouse and partner are more gender-neutral concepts often used in modern society when referring to marriage partners.

Historically, since there was an economic basis for marriages, the notions of romance and love were not considered essential. Instead, procreation was considered the primary marital duty. Women had fewer rights to own property or to be financially independent. Marriages were often arranged with the inclusion of a dowry for the female partner, sometimes referred to as a bride price, which provided a financial incentive for the male partner to enter into the agreement.

Feminist Opposition

Marriage has been equated to slavery by some who suggest that women have been historically bought and sold in the marriage contract for the sexual access of one man and for unpaid care giving and household tasks. In modern times, some of the habits and activities that have carried over from historical notions of marriage have at times been criticized by some feminists and scholars, who suggest that the traditional marriage continues to oppress women. Some medical research that suggests that marriage is correlated with better health and benefits for men and worse health and lesser benefits for women.

Historically, in patriarchal cultures family roles were often defined by gender. Women had primary responsibility for childcare and elder care in extended families. Men had primary economic or breadwinner responsibility. Some of these gender role expectations have carried over into modern families. Scholars in care giving research raise concerns about the restrictions such expectations create for mothers in modern families.

Relationship Themes

Marriage is a type of relationship that creates kinship ties. In most cultures and countries, marriage is a legal and relational contract meant to last permanently and monogamously. Marriage entails many dynamics, varying customs, complicated issues related to dissolution, and political beliefs about the meaning and purpose of marriage.

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