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The features of marriage in different cultures
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Marriage is a difficult word to define looking at it from all different perspectives. Typically marriage is “the customs, rules, and obligations that establish a special relationship between sexually cohabiting adults, between them and any children they take responsibility for, and between the kin of the married adults” (MindEdge, 5.05, 2016). Marriage is an ongoing bond and connection between two or more people, but also calls for many other forms. Although, after seeing the cozy couple at the table in the corner and hearing that the woman is married to a different man, I believe that marriage has a different meaning and set of norms and values in everyone’s culture. To the woman at the table I see that in her culture it is normal to go out …show more content…
When we learn our norms and values of our culture, we are also learning what type of marriage we prefer and what type of family we wish to have. Marriage is able to “shed light on human nature” (MindEdge, 5.03, 2016). There are different forms that societies follow that help make their decision on who they will marry. When people are married, it shows their norms and values on what they believe in and what is normal for them. In one culture going out with another guy, that’s not your husband, would be totally against their norms and values, so marriage is an expression of cultural norms and values. Although, even though marriage may be great, it can also lead to “a forging of relationships between kin groups”(MindEdge, 5.05, …show more content…
In her cultural it may even be a norm and value that she will marry more than one guy, called a plural marriage, specifically polyandry, where she will have multiple husbands. Each culture and individual has their own forms they follow and believe, which makes us all different. Even though it may not make sense to someone or they believe it, it is normal to another society and the people of that culture. Marriage is more complicated than it seems, and has many different forms that express cultural norms and values, seen with the woman at the local arts theatre. I wonder what they are doing and what the woman’s marriage norms and values that will determine what the relationship is between the two, but there are so many different forms and values that everyone should respect. Each individual needs to focus on their own relationships and marriages, and except that each individual has different norms and values that will be shown through their marriages, such as the woman I saw at this
For as long as we can remember, the idea that marriage is sacred, desirable, and even necessary has persisted in the western world. In a way, society has taught us that in order to live a normal, fulfilled life, one must find their soul mate, marry them, and spend the rest of eternity together. According to tradition, a perfect marriage is characterized by a husband that goes to work every day while the wife remains within the home cooking, cleaning, and taking care of the children. Tradition has further dictated that once the husband returns from work, the wife has dinner ready and the family sits down around the table to share a meal together. American literature is full of stories that both play on or challenge these traditional roles within a marriage. But, one might ask, does
Marriage is the beginning of family life, culmination of a period of seeking a mate, and realization of a major goal.
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.
In the movie, A Monsoon Wedding, the marriage that was about to take place was an arranged marriage. Aditi, a young woman who is still in love with an ex-boyfriend, has agreed to proceed with an arranged marriage, planned by her parents. In the beginning of the movie she states that she is ready to settle down. Her cousin, Ria, finds it “immature” that Aditi is deciding to get married to a man who her parents have chosen for and knows little of. Ria seems to believe that marriage should be based on love. When it comes down to Aditi’s marriage, culture influences why she has decided to get married.
When you look around the world and see all the hate, destruction and annihilation of people and their countries you have to wonder is it because of how they form their families? Let us look at two articles one written by Steve Sailor , The Cousin Marriage Conundrum and the other written by Serena Nanda ,Arranging a Marriage in India. We will look at the practices and protocols of two different countries and cultures through two essays, one that has prearranged marriages India and one that encourages inbreeding by way of marrying first or second cousins.
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...
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.
Fairfax, “Marriage is one of the core values of society. Almost 20 years ago, the well renowned black scholar and psychologist Dr. Na’im Akbar (1991) penned the following: ‘‘marriage is such an important lesson in manhood (womanhood) development. It is no wonder that every society requires some form of it’’ (p. 13).” This coincides with the values that I stated above that were considered important in my culture. Marriage is important to more that my culture obviously but in my culture there is always this well-known quote from the bible: “He who finds a wife, finds a good thing (NKJV Proverbs 18:22). That is basically religion and love in the same
In the book, The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work (1999) John M. Gottman provides insight on the seven fundamental tools to construct positive relationships. Through long years of research, Gottman studied married couples and noted degenerative behaviors that hindered the formation and attainment of a long and healthy marriage. Gottman research focused on several key behavioral predictors of divorce, which he calls the “The Four Horsemen”; Criticism, Contempt, Defensiveness, and Stonewalling.
Marriage is by no stretch of the imagination a static institution. It is dynamic, which is to say that is always changing or evolving. The idea of marrying for romantic love is a relatively new phenomenon, or at least the resurgence of an ancient one. Anthropologists tell us that the earliest form of civilization, hunter-gatherer societies, seemed to have married for love much like western societies do today (Fisher, 2004). However, this practice did not last long. With the accumulation of wealth and possessions came the need to secure and control those assets. Therefore marriage became an economic consideration in agrarian societies. It was an arranged i...
Marriage practices vary across cultures. Every culture has its own way of conducting marriage according to their traditions and customs. Most cultures share common customs and practices, while some cultures have unique practices. Marriage refers to a social union agreed upon by the couples to unit as spouses. The union of couples implies sexual relations, permanence in union, and procreation. This research paper focuses on comparing marriage practices in American and Indian culture. There is significant difference between the two cultures in marriage practices.
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
is the most usual in which a man and a woman unite themselves in the
Although what we were told by God, in many primitive civilizations marriage was primarily industrial. During early times husband and wife were not much together; they did not even eat together very often.(The Marriage Institution 1). Their marriages were always planned by their parents and in some cases brides were bought. Polygamy was also frequent in the early history of marriage. Although, as civilization progressed monogamy became the idealistic goal of human sex evolution.(The Marriage Institution 6). In addition, as civilization advanced, marriage became more seriously regarded and the wedding ceremony became recurrent. The marriage ceremony grew out of the fact that marriage was originally a community affair and also primitive man had no records, so the marriage had to be witnessed by many people.
Society is constantly developing to accept and support other life choices aside from the mandatory marriage of a man and a woman seen in the twentieth century. There are several underlying causes of this and they may seem that the modern world is traveling the wrong road but in fact, they are not. Decline in religion, change in women’s role, and the terms of what make a family transforming are societal improvements in disguise. Even though less are getting married or marry late, the hidden causes of this trend is a positive change in humanity. In today’s world, marriage is not a stage of life but an option from many other choices and this has allowed the general public to embrace the diversity and the array of differences in marriage as well as the course of action others choose to take.