MARRIAGE

Sacred Heart College3rd form Social Studies

What is marriage?

Marriage (or wedlock) is a social union or legal

contract between people that creates

kinship.

Marriage (contract)

• It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways

It depends on the culture or subculture in which it is found.

• Such a union, often formalized via a wedding ceremony, may also be called matrimony.

• Creates normative or legal obligations between the individuals involved.

• Recognized by the state, a religious authority, or both.

History of Marriage

• Marriage pre-dates recorded history.

• Rules of marriage have changed over time.Depends on culture or demography

• Reasons for marriage include:Man’s need for paternity of children, Exclusive right over a woman and legitimacy of relationship.

In almost all societies, access to women is institutionalized.

HONOR, DUTY, PURPOSE, VALUES?

Institutionalization of Female

• Females tend to have very traditionally defined roles:

CookingCleaningRearing of children/Home-maker

• Submissiveness to your spouse.Patriarchal households : (Example: go ask your dad...)

• Pre-marriage expectations Innocence and Purity Family (dad) consent to the marriage.

Why people marry?

People marry for many reasons:a) Legalb) Socialc) Libidinald) Emotionale) Economicf) Spiritualg) Religious

BEFORE MARRIAGE,

a couple should spend time getting to know

each other’s likes, dislikes, views and goals in order to

minimize the possibility of conflict

in the future.

Before getting married a couple should:

a. Accumulate money for marriage expenses and housing.

b. Get to know each other’s family.c. Identify a secure place of residence.d. Make a family plan.e. Ensure that they have the means

and attitude to support a family.

The Marriage Creed

Maturity Be willing to give and not receive

Amicable Be truthful, be a friend and remove doubt

RespectfulListen to words and gestures

Refuge Be there in times of distress

Individuality Allow to be oneself

Approval Commend efforts and do not criticize

GenerosityTime and talent giving build strength

Eliminate Eliminate troubles; be loyalty and committed

Influence of Culture on Marriage

• Number of partners•Monogamy: marriage to one person•Polygamy: custom of having more than

one spouse at a time.•Polyandry: custom of having more than

one husband at a time.•Polygyny: custom of having more than

one wife at a time.

Influence of Culture on Marriage - CONTD

• Choice of partners• Endogamy: partner must be chosen from inside one’s

own tribe.• Exogamy: partner must be chosen from outside one’s

own tribe.

• Rituals/traditions/customs• Dressing: customary marriage attire• Time: how long the marriage process will last.• Role of religion in marriage process• Role of male and female• Role of parents: Arranged marriage?

Influence of Culture on Marriage - CONTD

• Residence• Neolocal: live on your own after marriage (Nuclear

family).• Patrilocal: live with or near relatives of the groom

( extended family).• Matrilocal: live with or near relatives of the bride.

• Authority• Matriarchal: mother is the head of the household.• Patriarchal: father is the head of the household.• Equalitarian: equal sharing of authority.

Influence of Culture on Marriage - CONTD

• Lineage•Patrilineal: privileges and duties of descent follow male line.•Matrilineal: privileges and duties of descent follow female line.•Bilineal: privileges and duties of descent follow both line.

Influence of Culture on Marriage - CONTD

• Marriage age: consent• Reason for marriage:

LoveConveniencesecurity

• Dowry: some cultures require a dowry (Muslim, Indian, African)

• Divorce: can the marriage be terminated or annulled?

Type of Families

• Nuclear family: is made up of the mom, dad, and children living under one roof.

• Extended family: extends beyond mom, dad, and children.

• Reorganized family: brings into relationship a child or children from previous relationship.

• Single-parent family: one parent living with his/her child or children.

Type of Unions

• Legal union: formal marriage between persons over the age of 18; or, with parental consent

• Common-law union (consensual union): man and woman live under same roof without undergoing a legal marriage ceremony

• Visiting relationship: a woman lives without a permanent spouse. Male visits her by intervals. Children born are termed illegitimate

Functions of the Family

Difference Between a family and a household

Family• A unit of parents and

children. A group of individuals who are intimately related, living under one roof, supporting and maintaining each other socially, economically and emotionally.

Household• A social unit living

together belonging to the same house and family; domestic; as, household furniture; household affairs. All the people living in a house.

Functions of the family

• Socialization of children (video)• Economic cooperation and division of labor• Care supervision, monitoring, and interaction (video)• Legitimizing sexual relation• Reproduction• Provision of status: Social-family attributes

Ascribed status; birth order Achieved status: based on individual’s effort

• Affection, emotional support and companionship• Cultural: pass on traditions, tools, customs, habits,

ideas

Healthy families1.  Clearly identified hierarchy

2.  Well-defined parental roles

3.  Flexibility & adaptability -  Can respond to situational & maturational crises

4.  Consistent, clear rules & expectations

5.  Consistent affection

6.  Consistent limit-setting

7.  Open communication, bi-directional

8. Increased degree of support nurturance and acceptance of family members

Unhealthy families1. Rigidity - lack of flexibility

2.  Lack of individuality

3.  Extreme detachment

4.  Scape-goating - family member (often child) who is the object of displaced conflict/criticism

5.  Triangulation - Detouring conflict between 2 people by involving a third person, thereby stabilizing the relationship between the original pair

6.  Faulty problem solving skills

7.  Conflict avoidance

8.  Inconsistent application of affection/discipline

9.  Low levels of support/nurturance/acceptance

10. Increased degree of expressed hostility towards each other/other family members

DIMENSIONS OF PARENTAL BEHAVIOUR:

• All families organize themselves along the dimensions of affection and control which will result in specific child-rearing techniques/approaches/behaviors.

• The family will demonstrate a unique pattern of:– affection– Involvement– supervision/control

These will influence both the development and behavior of the child.

DIMENSIONS OF PARENTAL BEHAHVIOR:

CONTROLParental control is conceptualized as:

The degree to which parents exert control and power over the child,

The level of direct involvement in the activities of the child.

It is defined in terms of:The degree of supervision/monitoring of the child's

activities,The quality, nature, consistency of discipline,The parent's need to control the child.

Affection

• AFFECTION is defined as the amount of love, nurturance, support, and positive value demonstrated towards the child. The degree of affection demonstrated towards the child may range from love-to-indifference-to hostility.

Involvement

• INVOLVEMENT is defined as the degree and frequency of interaction between parent and child, the frequency and quality of communication between parent and child, interest in the activities of the child, and the quality of interaction between the parent and child.

Issues of Family life in Belize

• In-laws• Finance• Pre-marital sex• The generation gap• Extramarital relations• Child rearing practices• Courtship and marriage• Arranged and shot-gun marriages; abortion

INDIAN BRIDE

WESTERN BRIDE

ISRAELI BRIDE

AFRICAN BRIDE

JAPANESE BRIDE

EGYPTIAN BRIDE