Marriage In Modern Society

977 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Gay couples should have the same rights as heterosexual couples

Marriage is one of the most prevalent institution of society, existing as far back as the start of civilization, and is typically seen as a passage in one’s life. If one is not married past a certain age or is married before a certain age, society shames and rejects them. A person will not be seen as truly happy or mature by many until they are married and has have children. By literal definition, the word “marriage” is “the state of being united to a person of the opposite sex as husband or wife in a consensual and contractual relationship recognized by law” (Webster). In modern times, however, marriage has evolved to have a myriad of definitions and forms in different cultures. Marriage is one of the most common themes of literature and …show more content…

History speaks otherwise as marriage has existed in many different forms and definitions; extending from arranged, political, business, open, same-sex, to polygamous marriages. Arranged marriages are is(?) one of the oldest institutions of marriages and has existed to either further a different cause or a marriage set-up by a third-party that believes the two individuals they’ve chosen suit each other. Political marriages have existed to unite two countries, encourage a positive relationship between two countries, or to climb up political ranks in society. Business marriages are typically done for one to receive wealth or gain power. For instance a man or woman could be aiming to marry a person of higher status or wealth and share their wealth or divorce or their significant other soon after and obtain half of their property. Before the 21st century same-sex relationships were frequently shamed upon religiously and culturally. Most states and even countries do not allow same-sex marriages and most unions occur non-officially, existing only as a long term relationship. However, Same-sex marriages has become one of the most prevalent trends of the 21st century, creating countless amounts of protest, riots, movements, laws, rights, and has essentially changed the definition of marriage as a whole; from a union between a man and a woman to a

Show More
Related

  • Marriage Culture in the United States

    1252 Words  | 3 Pages

    The culture that exists in America is one that is constantly changing to suit the times and the many different types of people that reside in the country. One aspect of American culture that has changed profoundly is the institution of marriage. Marriage began as the undisputed lifestyle for couples willing to make the ultimate commitment to one another. However in less than a century, pointless and destructive alternatives such as premarital cohabitation, have developed to replace marriage.

    Read More

  • Compare And Contrast The Marital Decline And Marital Resilience Perspective

    1055 Words  | 3 Pages

    Marriage is the legal or formally recognized union of a man and a woman, or two people or the same sex as partners in a relationship. Marriage rates in the United States have changed drastically since the last 90’s and early 2000 years (Cherlin 2004). Marital decline perspective and marital resilience perspective are the two primary perspectives and which we believe are the results from the decline. The marital decline perspective is the view that the American culture has become increasingly individualistic and preoccupied with personal happiness (Amato, 2004). The change in attitudes has changed the meaning of marriage as a whole, from a formal institution

    Read More

  • The Marriage Process

    794 Words  | 2 Pages

    The fourth and final step of the marriage process is to become one flesh. According to free dictionary.com, become means “to grow or come to be,” or “to be appropriate or suitable; to develop or grow into; to be appropriate; befit.” Becoming is a process that takes time and work. Tim Keller states that in order to call a union marriage, “sex is understood as both a sign of that personal, legal union and a means to accomplish it. The Bible says don’t unite with someone physically unless you are also willing to unite with the person emotionally, personally, socially, economically, and legally. Don’t become physically naked and vulnerable to the another person without becoming vulnerable in every other way, because you have given up your freedom and bound yourself in marriage.” (Keller pg. 215) God’s design is supposed to occur on the wedding night as they complete their marriage vows by having sex. It is clear that “they will become one flesh” is a indirect term for sex but it is also more than sex. The become one is to be on the same page, mind and accord. It is correct to compare it to one brain, making one decision and taking one action. Together one path, and they share one authority, one heart, one body, one mind, one thought, one church, and one God. The spouses become one flesh in every sense of the word. All these areas of oneness are important because division in any of them will cause them to stumble.

    Read More

  • Meaning of Marriage in Different Cultures

    1752 Words  | 4 Pages

    In Islam, marriage is a contract between two people. It is required that a certain amount of money be relayed to the bride. This idea of dowry derives from the word in Arabic; Mahr. Furthermore, like both Christianity and Judaism, Islam is strict on the concept of chastity. It is the element of staying pure. Seeing as marriage in Islam is concealed with intercourse, which is evident from the root of the world in Arabic meaning marriage. The Arabic of word Nikah can be translated to marriage and "sexual intercourse." We see in Islam a marriage being very mutual, we see the concept of equality among the couple. This is advocated when looking into divorce in Islam. Divorce is not prohibited like Christianity where there has to be an annulment. The Muslim faith recognizes marriage as a "transaction" in a sense. There is a contract that must be fully accepted by both the husband and wife, and two Muslims have to be there to witness it. After the contract is signed and the decision on the Mahr is derived at, a marriage ceremony can take place. The woman does not necessarily need to appear during the signing of the contract, but the bride tends to usually be there. The Qur'an holds marriage very highly, and allows the presence for the willingness of sex. In fact, if you complete the contract of marriage you have essentially completed one half of your faith in Islam. Furthermore, the Qur'an continues to go on and describe certain things that must happen in a marriage. It even states that a Muslim man can either marry a Muslim woman or a woman that is included in the People from the Book. The People of the Book are referred to as the Kitabi in Islam. This would mean a Muslim man could go onto marry a Christian or Jewish woman; however, thi...

    Read More

  • The True Meaning of Marriage

    576 Words  | 2 Pages

    When we think of marriage, the first thing that comes to mind is having a lasting relationship. Marriage is a commitment of two people to one another and to each other?s family, bonded by holy matrimony. When a couple plans to marry, they think of raising a family together, dedicating their life to each other. That?s the circle of life--our natural instinct to live and produce children and have those children demonstrate your own good morals. I have never been married; but I don?t understand why when two people get married and vow to be together for richer and poorer, better or worse, decide to just forget about that commitment. A marriage should be the most important decision a person makes in his or her life.

    Read More

  • Trends of Marriage and Divorce

    1291 Words  | 3 Pages

    Marriage is one of the oldest cultural institutions in the world. Its status has changed drastically over the years, and in the last few decades alone has gone from being a social expectation to simply an option for most people. In the 1920s, marriage was generally considered an expectation for all young women, lest they dry up like cacti before they bore children. Today, marriage is generally recognized as a commitment that may satisfy some, though many choose to forgo the process. The differences between the cultural perception of marriage in the “Roaring Twenties” compared to today have manifested themselves in many different ways.

    Read More

  • The Evolution of Marriage

    2099 Words  | 5 Pages

    Marriage is a “socially recognized and approved union between individuals, who commit to one another with the expectations of a stable and lasting intimate relationship. It begins with a ceremony known as a wedding which formally unites marriage partners. A marital relationship usually involves some kind of contract, either written or specified by tradition, which defines the partners’ rights and obligations to each other, to any children they may have, and to their relatives. In most contemporary industrialized societies, marriage is certified by the government,” (Skolnick, 2005). Marriage is also an important institution because of the impact it has on society. Marriage is the main way that reproduction of human life occurs. In some societies it is tradition for family heirlooms or things of value be passed on through marriage. Marriage also serves as a healthy way to have intimate relationships with an individual. In most places a marriage exists between two people of the opposite sex. However, the legal definition of marriage is currently being challenged by many. According to Skolnick’s article a marriage can be defined by responsibilities that a couple would share, some examples are: living together, having sexual relations, sharing money and financial responsibilities, and having a child together. The issue is that homosexual couples can do these things like heterosexual couples.

    Read More

  • Should parents assume equal responsibilities when raising a child?

    1318 Words  | 3 Pages

    For thousands of years until today, the best way to officially be the partner of someone is through marriage. People have practiced marriage for thousands of years. Many cultures see marriage as the best method to celebrate the love of a couple until death tears them apart. “Marriage establishes and maintains family, creates and sustains the ties of kinship, and is the basis of community” (Rowe 2). Marriage is a concept bigger than ones happiness

    Read More

  • Wedding Customs Essay

    1902 Words  | 4 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • Marriage as an Outdated Institution

    1061 Words  | 3 Pages

    is the most usual in which a man and a woman unite themselves in the

    Read More

  • The Development of Marriage

    999 Words  | 2 Pages

    Marriage has gone through many changes throughout its history. It's earliest forms date back to the story of creation. It has developed a great deal since then. It is a simple fact that men and women can not survive without each other. Marriage is part of the created natural order, we were meant to be together.

    Read More

  • The History of Marriage

    1990 Words  | 4 Pages

    What is Marriage? Marriage is when people are being united together as husband and wife in a consensual and contractual relationship recognized by the law. Marriage hasn’t always been how it is now, where women have a say in family problems, and where woman have the right to choose whom they want to marry. Before during the ancient times, women had to marry those in their families, and could not marry those that were Marriage use to be all about doing what you needed to support your family, which meant you married someone who was able to give you what you needed. Marriage wasn’t because you loved someone, but it was always because people wanted to preserve power. Now in the marriage, people marry, because they love each other, and because they want to make an effort to spend the rest of their lives together.

    Read More

  • Pros And Cons Of Getting Married Vs Single Life

    1104 Words  | 3 Pages

    The debate on whether to get married or stay single has been raging for a long while, with both sides of the coin having their own pros and cons regarding the matter. Many proponents of either marriage or single life have strong individual convictions, and it is difficult to reach a definitive, objective conclusion. Is the married individual happier than his/her single counterpart, or is getting married just a comfort seeking ritual that people believe they have to fulfill at some point in their lives? It is necessary to dissect this issue in the light of four factors: health and other medical factors, the economic and financial factors, mental and emotional wellbeing and lastly, the social factors. According to Webster’s dictionary, the definition of Married is “the state of being united to a person of the opposite sex as husband or wife in a consensual and contractual relationship recognized by law”.

    Read More

  • Argumentative Essay On Late Marriage

    600 Words  | 2 Pages

    marriage is one of the most important institutions of the society. Each person in the

    Read More

  • Lord Penzance In Hyde V. Hyde

    1084 Words  | 3 Pages

    The legal relationship, which comes out from a contract by which, ‘one man and one woman’ who have the ability to enter into such a union, promised to live together, take care of each other in the relation of ‘husband and wife in law for life until the legal termination of that relationship’ is defined as marriage. Marriage also may be defined as a legal union between ‘one man and one woman’ as husband and wife entering into contract changes the status of both parties in giving new rights and obligation. Traditionally, marriage has been viewed as creation of a family and vital to protection of morals and civilization. That is, the traditional principle founded from the marriage is that, the husband has the obligation to support his wife, provide a safe house, pay the necessities such as food, clothing, and to live together with the wife. The wife’s obligation entailed maintaining a home, having sexual relations with her husband and rearing the couple’s children.

    Read More

More about Marriage In Modern Society

Open Document