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.
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.
Homosexuality "Marriage" is a bond recognized by various institutions, between a man and a woman. Not only a man and a woman define “marriage”, but pairs of the same sex fulfill the criteria of a successful marriage as well. William Bennett, the author of “Against Marriage”, dictates that allowing homosexuals to get married will change the meaning of marriage while Andrew Sullivan claims that "they make a deep commitment to one another and to society; in exchange, society extends the benefits to them”. Although, over the years, people have changed the essence of marriage to suit their personal needs, but many constitutions are biased towards equality of rights resulting in the condemnation of personal integrity.
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.
Examine the ways in which government policies and laws may affect the nature and extent of family diversity: Some sociologists have suggested that government/social policies have led to more diversity in families, while others disagree. Social policies are laws the state puts in place, in order to meet the needs of the system. One way in which families have become more diverse is the increase in same sex families. In the UK in 1967, homosexuality was legalised which meant same sex families were more socially acceptable. In 2002, the UK adoption laws changed, which meant gay couples were now allowed to adopt children, which led to an increase in same sex couples with children and less typically the nuclear family, with a male and female parent.
Most people wonder why they desire to get married. The reason is the same as anyone who wants to get married to the one whom he or she loves. Homosexuals just want a social right to get married. Two individuals of same sex love each other, why they cannot celebrate this love through the marriage. I think that everyone should have the right to get married no matter if he is homosexual or not.
This is considered to be a Domestic Partnership, which is a legal or personal relationship between two individuals who live together and share a common lifestyle. This is not only restricted to homosexuals and lesbians, it can be shared between frat buddies for instance. Sullivan says, “There are virtually no conservative arguments either for preferring no social incentives for gay relationships or for preferring a second-class relationship, such as domestic partnership, which really does provide an incentive for the decline of traditional marriage. Nor, if conservatives are concerned by the collapse of stable family life, should they be dismayed by the possibilities of gay parents?” When Sullivan says to “bridge the golf,” he is saying to connect the two sexualities to help understand one another. Legalizing gay marriage will create role models for young gay people, who experience the struggle of “coming out of the closet.” This could also heal the gay-straight rift more than anything.
Because the parents often arranged these marriages, the daughters felt that they could not go against their parents’ wishes, so they went along with it. A picture bride is a woman who wed strangers, through arranged marriages, usually of the same nationality, in foreign lands that were facilitated by the prior exchange of photographs and letters. More than fourteen thousand picture brides immigrated to Hawaii and the United States between 1907 and 1924. Marriages are one of the major life events for Japanese Americans. “They are not marriages of individuals…” they “…represent the bringing together of two families.
For example two people who are serious and hardworking are more likely to be attracted to each other rather than someone whose main interests are having fun and avoiding responsibility. Although this is not always the case as we all know couples are complete opposite, although research done by Herbener found that married couples who were similar were happier. Attitudes however differ in their attitudes to important issues, although research suggests that attitude alignment often occurs, where the partner changes their attitudes so they become more similar to their
These shows are small performances where the men dress up as females. Many straight members of society will attend these types of shows. These types of shows are easier for the heterosexual human mind to register and comprehend. (Feminists For Choice,