Analysis Of The Marriage Contract

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Bernstein, Mary. “The marriage contract.” Introducing the New Sexuality Studies: Second Edition. Ed. Steven Seidman, Nancy Fischer and Chet Meeks. New York: Routledge, 2011. 421-426. Print. Mary Bernstein is a Professor at the University of Connecticut. Bernstein observes marriage as a legal contract and relates it to procreation, gender roles, the way the society promotes marriage and to why gay couples want to marry. She examines how historically, sex is promoted for procreation within monogamous married relationships as an economic necessity, whereas after the mid nineteenth century, marriage is more based on love and happiness. The article also emphasizes gender roles present in marriage, where the wife naturally spends more time at home doing housework, whereas the husband is at …show more content…

Bernstein provides evidence to her argument by referring to the laws enforced in the United States, other authors and common experiences and situations relating to marriage. In addition, she briefly touches upon the problem that marriage poses on same-sex couples, where it neglects the needs of nonheterosexual relationships and prevents them from accessing the same privileges and benefits that heterosexual couples get. This text is directed more towards those who consider marriage or are already married. It aims at both a heterosexual and nonheterosexual audience and more towards those who are not married yet, showing them the truth and facts behind the marriage contract. The article is useful because it portrays how heterosexual marriage is promoted and succumbed to by highlighting the importance of procreation and the legal benefits given to people who fit the ideal couple. Unlike Ingraham’s text of “One is not born a bride,” Bernstein does not limit her work to focus on one type of gender or sexuality, but she explores both heterosexuality and homosexuality and considers the issues of trying to obtain the benefits given to married couples. However, Bernstein

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