These relationships are most likely to be non voluntary such as arranged or forced marriages. These marriages however are more than just two people getting married, it is argued that these marriages are more about two families joining one another and becoming one, in some cases extended family are likely to be living together. However, the other type of categorised culture is an individualistic culture. The western societies tend to be this culture and consist of having the emphasis on an individual’s freedom, achievements and rights. These kinds of relationships are normally voluntary and formed for an individual’s happiness rather than for the happiness of a family.
In her essay “The Radical idea of Marrying for Love,” Stephanie Coontz expresses her views on the evolution of marriage from its former survival and connection based purpose, to its now personal and emotional fulfillment motives. Coontz explains that in the past “it was inconceivable that people would choose their mates on the basis of something as fragile and irrational as love.” For most of history marriage was a mere tool for survival and political gain. Coontz provides several examples of such marriages motives but goes on to explain that in recent years, the focus has changed to a more personal motive. This shift of motives in marriage is primarily seen in Western societies and can be tied to the media driven idea of a “happily ever after” seen, heard, and advocated in a plethora of ways throughout Western societies. Today, marriage is based on the idea of love.
After this law there was an increase in lone parent families, cohabiting and even same sex couples, this was because it started to be more socially acceptable and married couples didn’t have to be forced into a relationship if they weren’t happy. However, The New Right did not like the idea of having lone parent families, they said that lone parents (mostly mothers) cannot discipline their children properly and are a burden on the welfare state as they need to claim benefits due to the fact that they are not working so they can’t support their children. Conservatives see marriage as the essential basis for creating a stable environment for bringing up children, so I don’t think that they are very happy with the fact that family diversity is such a big deal in our society nowadays as they have a very traditional view. Similarly to The New Right’s view, Chester in 1985 claimed that people aspire to be in a nuclear family because that is the way that most people in the UK have been brought up, he also claimed that most people live in a household headed by a married couple and will most likely be the head of a nuclear family in the future. He believes that the nuclear family is the ideal type of family where the husband is the breadwinner and the wife is the housewife
Brett Libby 11 / 4 / 12 Theology III Definition of Marriage This article written by Bishop Richard Malone talks about marriage from a very idealistic version of what marriage should BE, but not what marriage always IS. Not every marital union is blissfully happy, whether it is man and a woman, two men, or two women. Not all marriages of men and women last. Often, the marriage breaks up and the children’s lives get a whole lot more complicated, either by being raised in two households or by a single parent only. Bishop Malone states; “Marriage is the foundation of the family and the best place for children to be loved, cared for, educated, and taught to be productive, creative, upright, and responsible citizens”.
People are also expecting more from marriage, and women especially are choosing to live alone due to feminist views. One reason for the growth in single hood could be the change in the law for divorce. In 1969 the Divorce Reform Act allowed people to divorce easier, as it meant they could put in place a no fault act. This meant that people didn't feel forced to stay in a marriage that made them unhappy. Furthermore, this would lead to a lot of people expecting more from relationships after getting divorced, as they wouldn't want to fall victim to what cause their last marriage to end again.
Couples can share a life of dreams, excitement and happiness. Many believe that marriage put women in higher risk factors for abuse and violence. Marriage has become only a statement now because of the widespread social change. Many have stated that being marriage is not important any longer and choose to live together instead. But this is not the same as sharing an intimate and fulfilling life.
New right thinkers however; believe that these laws undermine the traditional male dominance in families, but many believe these new policies for women and children strengthen the family rather than weaken it. Sociologists such as new right thinkers argue that the Labour party has constructed a ‘nanny state’ which over-intervenes in personal living arrangements. The Labour party have constructed many laws beneficial for women in families as they have realised most families now rely of two
For example, Myers reports that Indian women from arranged marriages reported no less marital satisfaction than non-arranged marriages in the US. However, studies show there has been a shift in Non-Western culture towards voluntary relationships, women from Chengdu in China, for instance, said they felt better about their marriage (even if it wasn’t permanent) when based on a love match than if based on parents decision. Another difference in the nature of relationships across cultures is whether focus is placed on the individual or the group as a whole. In the West, the culture is considered individualistic with the interests of the individual being of greatest importance, highlighting one’s freedom of choice. Whereas in the non-west cultures are collectivist, and the entire group is the primary unit of concern.
The confirmation bias here, has to do with the families that will engage their young daughters to marry older men to correspond to their ethical ideas that they behold. Does bias also play a role with faith? By including possible ways of knowing, faith could be a relatable aspect of the formation of a bias. The families of the young Zimbabwean girls are aware of the possible tragic circumstances but are influenced by their moral judgment which could be rather based on faith and their embedded cultural tradition. Knowing these facts, the families make a decision, whereas, some families make decisions after their finances.
In modern times, arranged marriage has continued in royal, aristocratic families and ethnic minority groups in developed countries; elsewhere, arranged marriage is common in South Asia, Africa the Middle East Latin America Southeast Asia and parts of East Asia. Islam is one religion that uses arranged marriages. Not only are the marriages arranged by the parents but also by older relatives as well. They believe that the parents know all about their children so they are capable of choosing a suitable partner whom may enable the couple to have a successful marriage, all though if either the bride or groom disagrees the wedding cannot go on. The details of the marriage are set out in a contract which is a legal document.