Marriage
Marriages differ in accordance with culture, religion, values, and believes. It is an essential social institution, which is manifested in different types. Some cultures see marriage as a social contract, while others consider it a religious sacrament. However, both groups define it as a general agreement between people reached through communication with each other that helps to keep the continuity of generations despite the fact that social obligations related to kinship relations vary considerably in different societies. Thus, types of marriage depend on culture because they are predetermined by family and societal needs https://top-dissertations.com/abstract/
Polygamy In societies of the Western type, marriage and, consequently, the family are associated with monogamy, which presupposes the type of marriage where each spouse has only one partner. However, polygamy still exists in many parts of the world. Admittedly, it is the type of a marriage union, in which one of the spouses marries more than one partner. According to studies, the number of cultures with the predominance of polygamous marriages is almost four times higher than monogamous ones. In addition, polygamous unions are recognized by the civil legislation of about 50 countries, mostly in the Arab world. Therefore, in some societies, authorities often encourage such practice.
In such societies, polygamous men are considered economically stable, while monogamous ones are seen as weak. A group of scientists has found that communities in which polygyny is common have several advantages not only for men but also for women and children, for example, there is a high level of food security and children’s health. Nevertheless, some studies assert that polygamous men are four times more likely to suffer from cardiovascular diseases than monogamous ones. On the other hand, the institution of polygamy is identified as the infringement of women’s rights and freedoms. Since it is prevalent in many Muslim societies, its existence is explained by peculiarities of the Islamic ideology, which fixes the dependent position of women in the family and society.
Monogamous Heterosexual Marriage Monogamous heterosexual marriage is a traditional socially approved type of relations between a woman and man, who love each other and plan to have children. It has great advantages over all other forms of arrangement of love relationships. Thus, people in heterosexual marriage have the ability to born and raise kids. The unity of loving partners is not only a physiological process, but also a spiritual one. Moreover, heterosexual marriage raises fertility and contributes to the working force. On the individual level, it makes people’s life meaningful. Throughout human history, it has always been a union between a man and a woman, ensuring prosperity and stability in family and society. Society has always emphasized it, protecting it by law and traditions.
Furthermore, this is the only kind of relationship that naturally leads to the creation of a newborn person and through stability and mutual commitment provides the one with the best conditions for upbringing and growing. Social studies have given evidence that the traditional family shows better results in raising children and providing them with special social benefits. Moreover, such relations between the parties of the unit has tremendous positive effects on family members and society as a whole because men are involved in a more responsible and productive life. Another reason is that it prevents male promiscuous sexual relations, making men fathers. Such marriage hinders female egocentrism in a constant search for a man of higher status, making women mothers. Thus, this marriage type has better outcomes as for health, economic well-being, and well-being of men, women, and children.
Same-Sex Marriage Supporters of the legalization of same-sex marriages usually put forward arguments that refer to morality and human rights. Opponents emphasize the immorality of such unions, referring to the sacred books of religions. Supporters suggest that no one dares to deprive a person of the freedom of choice, namely, with whom to live and whom to love. In this respect, they consider same-sex marriages natural. When they talk about the abnormality of same-sex marriages, they forget that the norm here is more determined by culture than by the innate nature of man. Nevertheless, such marriage does not affect their ability to create a harmonious emotional space.
On the other hand, same-sex marriage is a completely different culture and view of the world that aims to supplant the traditional understanding of sex and human relationships. However, two homosexuals or lesbians cannot create a newborn person. Thus, a child born to a lesbian as a result of artificial insemination still has a biological father, regardless of whether he knows it or not. In this case, the child is deprived of the right to know the father. It translates to systemic injustice, when the state supports such a situation in the form of laws and judicial power. According to Strong and Cohen, the movement to legalize same-sex marriages shows a catastrophic deficit of democracy in society because such dramatic changes occur because of a well-organized international campaign and not because of the democratic decision of people.
Regardless of the type of marriage, people hope to find harmony in a mutual life. Those of them who reach this purpose contribute to their families and society as a whole. Thus, marriage helps people reach harmony in their life. Thus, it may influence future achievements of their children and business affairs. Therefore, every individual must choose the marriage type that suits his or her beliefs, values, culture, and so on.