1. Unit 3 Social Institutions Marriage / Family

2. Focus Questions Why does marriage in Canada continue to be a popular institution? Why do most people in mainstream Canadian culture base their decision to marry on romantic love? Why is it hard to define the ‘typical’ Canadian wedding?

3. Basic Statistics  Approximately 40% of marriage ends in divorce  Remarriage rate is approximately 35%  Marriage in Canada is based on free-choice love matches the job of finding a mate is ours, not a 3rd party’s We do this though the dating process

4. The Kiss

5. The Dating Process Purpose 1. To socialize into the pattern of being part of a partnership 2. for recreation 3. to seek that true love

6. Dating New Types In the past girls and boys met in school. They went ‘steady’, graduated high school / university and got married Today:  On-line dating  Speed dating  Singles events (museums)  Traditional – set up by a friend  Workplace relationships  Bars and clubs  …

7. Romantic Love Based on: 1. Physical attraction 2. Shared values 3. Compatible personalities Sternberg’s love Theory  Types of love based on combinations of the 3 components listed below Passion Commitment Intimacy

8. Sternberg’s love Theory continued Love TypePassionIntimacyCommitment Non-love --- Liking -+- Infatuation +-- Empty love --- Romantic love ++- Companionate love -++ Fatuous love +-+ Consummate love +++

9. Critiques of Free Choice Marriage Love can be blind (we fall in love with people for not who they are but who we want them to be) Romantic love crumbles when passion declines, which it will over time (hate to break it to you!) Marriage is too big a decision to make by one ‘self.  Objective 3rd party opinions should be considered

10. Dating and Attraction ***Opposites do not attract! People date those that are similar in terms of the following:  physical attractiveness  Academic achievement  Personality

11. Marriage in Canada A changing institution

12. Marriage – A Cultural Universal Monogamy ♀ ↔ ♂ ♀ ↔ ♀ ♂ ↔ ♂ Polygamy related to issues of property rights, access to resources and the sharing of daily work  Polygyny ♂ → ♀+ ♀ + ♀ (one husband, multiple wives)  Head wife  Wives form a sisterhood  Benefits for the wives - companionship, shared domestic responsibilities  Beneficial in times of war – men are limited  Polyandry ♀ → ♂ + ♂ + ♂ (one wife, multiple husbands)

13. Monogamous Marriage Customs: The norm

14. Mixtec (southern Mexico) Marriage based on an economic arrangement Romance plays little to no role in partner selection Belief that any house without both ♀ ↔ ♂ is doomed to fail Remarriage happens quickly with the death of a spouse

15. India 95% Endogamy, (arranged marriages) parents choose Belief - Love is a peaceful emotion based on a long-term commitment and devotion to family.  It is created under the right conditions (marry within your caste) Children are socialized to adhere to parent authority in accepting their parent’s choice for marriage.  Children socialized to believe that a choice of spouse is too big a decision for a young inexperienced person to make.

16. Polygyny in Africa (Nigeria) Each mother and her children make up a sub-unit in the family All wives co-operate in the economic and childcare activities of the family Enjoyed by both the husband and wives. Husband – fun, wives – companionship Senior Wife  confidant to other co-wives  intermediary between co-wives and husband  chooses co-wives to ensure they all get along Decreasing because girls are going to school and becoming more empowered (many are choosing not to marry)

17. Fraternal Polyandry in Tibet Many brothers take one wife – Eldest brother has most authority Sexual and work responsibilities are shared by all brothers Children are treated equally. All the brothers are viewed as the father Based on economics – prevents a division of family wealth Limits population growth – harsh climate Men are often traveling, therefore rarely home at the same time Problems: distribution of power within the household, sexual favoritism