The US respondents were reluctant to marry in the absence of love (only 14% might marry someone they didn’t love). However, collectivist cultures such as India (24%) and Thailand (34%) were higher, suggesting a high proportion of people in these cultures were prepared to marry in the absence of love. This suggests that in such cultures, the extended family is of greater importance and romantic love is considered a comparative
Discuss the influence of culture on romantic relationships Across the world culture is found to play a large part in romantic relationships, but it varies both across and between cultures. In western cultures such as the U.K, USA, and Europe , we are given free will over who we form our relationships with, whereas in non western collectivist cultures such as Asia, India and Africa a majority of relationships are pre-determined by arranged marriages where the parents select the best partner. According to research this is due to the parents thinking their child will choose their partner based on attractiveness and not success. So the parents choose the most successful partner knowing their children and grandchildren will be well looked after. In western cultures divorce is more common and it’s acceptable for people to get married multiple times.
Moghaddam’s study conformed this in individualist cultures there is a main tendency to choose partners on what’s best for themselves, whereas collectivists tend to choose on what’s best for the group. His has led to a favouring of non-voluntary relationships in collectivist cultures. This study suggests that there is this choice element that underlines the reason for differences across cultures in relationships. Moghaddam et al go onto suggest that these cultural differences may be the cause of more frequent divorces in individuals cultures due to people believing they should still be making choices to benefit themselves when married. Although statistics have shown to support many of the suggestions implicated by this study, it is important to take into account how much non-Western cultures are changing and becoming more urbanised and thereby more individualist.
Some may feel that because they don’t share or believe in the same standards or preaching that they are less significant or made to feel that way. If a woman who has grown up strictly based on a catholic faith system wants to marry a man that has grown up Lutheran. First off, what happens if the families don’t approve of each other because of this, but still those two people love each other. This would cause major tension between not only the two families, but also between the two individuals themselves. Secondly, now they need to pick which faith they are going to follow as a united pair.
Another argument that religion maintains the oppression of women in terms of rituals is that in some instances women are not allowed in a sacred place when going through the menstrual period. Also, even in marriage the women have to promise to obey the man in their vow whereas the man doesn’t need to make this promise in their vow. Arguments against the idea that religion maintains the oppression of women is that society is becoming more secular so rituals aren’t so important as they use to be, which means women are no longer oppressed. It can also be argued that it is not the rituals that are patriarchal and that it may just be the use of ritual by men. This means it is not religious rituals that are patriarchal, but instead it is the way in which men use rituals to match their own ideology.
Parsons claim that this division of labour is beneficial to both men and women. Some conservative thinkers and politicians, known as the New Right, also hold this view. However one can argue that these ideas are invalid because Parsons' work was theoretical, not empirical therefor it cannot be applied to the general public. Also, his work was done in the 50's and can be considered as outdated therefor it has got bad temporal validity. Elizabeth
But, just because both cultures seem the same, doesn't mean they are. Both Things Fall Apart and “Chocolat” have different viewpoints on how family structure is supposed to work. One major difference is the view on marriage in both cultures. In Things Fall Apart, the family structure is very different from what we are used to. They practice polygamy, where it is the norm for the men in the culture to have more than one wife.
Marriage is not meant to be flexible and recognizing same-sex marriage would mean we are allowing the meaning of marriage to be abolished. Bennett also says a marriage between a man and a women is a union recognized not only in our country, but others as well. He notes that marriage is an agreement for heterosexual couples that many cultures acknowledge and trying to preserve this tradition is not to bully homosexuals, but to keep this meaningful act alive. But, Bennett explains, legalizing gay marriage won’t just change the meaning of marriage. He foresees allowing same-sex marriage could bring troubles we aren’t prepared for.
Gays Joining The Military Many People believe that gays, (meaning men and women) are not capable of serving in the military forces. This is based on what military friends of mine say or believe, though, that does not mean that the personal values of many people do not reach the same conclusion. In terms of military necessity, it is essential for gays and lesbians to be excluded from military units to maintain the units to stick together, (sleep under same roof). Some military persons believe that combat performance would also decline if gays were permitted to serve in the armed forces of the country. Some also view the gay soldiers to be perverts in uniform, and that they should not have the honor of serving the country even if they are able to do all of what is required of them.
Heterosexuals have gay kids, so homosexuals have just as much chance as heterosexuals of having a gay child. When asked if Rosie would rather her children to be gay or straight, she answered straight. Rosie didn't want her kids to be gay in America because all the madness that comes with that title, and she believed it would just be easier if they were straight. In the end she just wants her children to live a happy life. Rosie said being gay does not make someone a bad parent.