Marriage (Definition and History)

Marriage Definition: a socially legitimate sexual union, begun with a public announcement and with some idea of permanence, and assumed with a more or less explicit contract.

Questions What does a socially legitimate relationship mean? Identify a variety of couple relationships that exist in Canada today. Are any of these not socially legitimate? Why?

Contract Definition: implies a socio-cultural understanding about the rights and responsibilities of the individuals in the relationship.

Conjugal Unions Definition: Sociologists refer to marriages as conjugal unions to denote relationships in which individuals live together in a sexual relationship.

The Origins of Marriage Helen Fisher suggested that the durability of the pair-bond, a mating relationship between a male and female, is essential to the survival of humans. Fisher concludes that the desire to form an enduring pair-bond is a basic biological drive.

Functionalism Functionalists describe marriage as a social institution that developed as an important part of the organization of society to meet human’s basic needs. The diversity of marriage reflects the various ways that societies organize to meet the functional requisites of sexual reproduction, socialization of children, and division of labour.

Exchange Theory From the perspective of exchange theory, people get married because they think being married will be better than being single.

Lesson Learning Goals C2.2 explain mate-selection, courtship, and marriage customs in various cultures, religions, and historical periods C2.4 analyse differences among roles in intimate relationships in various social, historical, and ethnocultural contexts

Activities Read pp. 172-176: Marriage in Western Traditions. Define all bold terms. Complete a chart that compares the different ways marriages are formed, the obligations and roles of spouses, the expectations concerning the marriage relationship, and how marriages can be ended, in each historical period. Complete handout: Understanding Marriage Requirements in Ontario