The Pros and Cons of Marriage Today

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The institution of marriage has been around longer than recorded history. It is present in every known human society. However, there is no single, universally accepted definition of what marriage is. It is a constantly evolving institution with many different facets. It varies with every group and culture. In almost all societies, marriage is a socially accepted union between a man and a woman. Yet, that definition is changing in modern times. Same-sex marriage—while still not universally socially accepted—is becoming more prevalent, not only in the United States, but also in other cultures around the world.

To question whether or not marriage is a worthwhile pursuit, one must examine different cultures and look back on how marriage has changed throughout history. The majority of people believe it is an issue that isn’t even worth discussing; marriage is what a person does when they become an adult. A person grows up, falls in love, gets married, and starts a family. Of course, this is the way most individuals in this country believe. It is taught to children from the time they begin forming memories and opinions. Television, movies, books, and every other form of media portray the ideal American family to be a married couple with children. Who doesn’t remember sitting down when they were a kid and watching sitcoms about the trials and tribulations of a family? There have been countless shows like this and there will be countless more. This paper will examine the different facets of marriage in various cultures to determine whether or not marriage is still a meaningful, valuable institution or if it has become an antiquated, futile waste of time.

Marriage has been an important institution throughout the centuries. In the Un...

... middle of paper ...

...art of life that should remain an option for those who feel that they want to partake.

Works Cited

Cohen, Allison. "The #1 Reason Marriage Seems So Darn Hard." YourTango. N.p., 1 Jan. 2013. Web. 15 Dec. 2013.

Goody, Jack. The oriental, the ancient, and the primitive: systems of marriage and the family in the pre-industrial societies of Eurasia. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1990. Print.

Mintz, Howard. "Gay marriages remain legal in California." MercuryNews.com. N.p., 14 Aug. 2013. Web. 15 Dec. 2013.

Singleton, B. "Modern Marriage: Looking for Love." The Economist. N.p., 9 June 2012. Web. 15 Dec. 2013.

Sugden, Joanna. "How to Cope With Arranged Marriage." India Real Time . N.p., 23 Aug. 2013. Web. 15 Dec. 2013.

Tracz, Orysia. "Vesillia: Ukrainian weddings in Manitoba over the last century." UKR Weekly. N.p., 27 Oct. 2002. Web. 15 Dec. 2013.

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