Changing definitions and types of marriage across cultures

¶ … Marriage

Interpretation of marriage

Marriage is defined in many ways depending place, culture, and religion. There have been transformations in the institution of marriage over time. The institution has reflected the moral perceptions among people in the world. Conservatively, marriage is defined as the union between two consenting adults of the opposite gender that is meant to last for their entire lives. This definition has key points worth noting. One such is the issue of age. In the definition, it is strictly stated that people entering into a marriage agreement must have attained the age of majority. In some countries, this age is fixed at eighteen years while in some others fixed at sixteen years. There is also the other provision of gender, stating that the adults must be of the opposite sex. Lastly, it is worth noting that this conservative definition has mentioned an issue of consent. Both parties must be willing to get married: forced marriages are discouraged. Such is the definition that has the backing of most religious faiths.

Culturally, marriage the institution of two people who have an agreement to share their lives, have children and be there for each other for the remaining part of their lives. It is an agreement that is meant to last for all the time that the two people will wish. This means that if it comes to a time when both desire to terminate it, they will do so. This explains the concept of divorce as an avenue for rethinking one's stand on marriage. Most traditional and religious provisions on marriage do not give room for divorce (Carter & Glick, 2008). On divorce, most religious beliefs term it immoral and unacceptable. In modern days, the divorce rate is on the rise hence making people rethink on the strictness of the cultural provisions on marriage.

Types of marriage

There are different types of marriages often determined and originating from the kind of arrangements between couples. The most common one is the conservative arrangement where an adult man and woman agree to come together in a union. This is the most advocated since its logic is drawn from religion, culture and science. A union between a woman and a man is potential and viable to produce children. In such a union, it is important to note that agreements are formalized and on many occasions ceremonies done to mark it. Secondly, an arrangement can be made between man and woman to stay together for some time as they consider getting married. On loose terms, this can be described as an experimental marriage. It happens mostly among those people in love and feels too young to get married (Davidson & Moore, 2012).

There is no recognition in law for such kind of marriage up to a certain point. In most countries, when people stay together in a mock marriage like this for six months, they will automatically be deemed, husband and wife. Other marriages that have come out of late are against the initial cultural and religious dictums. These are the same sex marriages. It is currently common to find men marrying each other just like women. Same-sex marriage has received constitutional approval in some progressive societies such as the United States of America. In such regard, there are increasing numbers of people deviating from the normal ways of life and championing new ones. The only common thing in all these marriages is of age and consent. Even in the informal marriages, no one is forced to join them as well. It is also a violation of the law to engage a minor in all these marriages (Kornfeld, Waters, & Furgang, 2013).

Part B

An interview is conducted on Mrs. Wright, a middle-aged lady who works as a high school teacher. Mrs. In this interview, questions relating to her middle age life and her thoughts about old age is asked. About what she has done in life, questions that touch on her career and family are also asked.

On the question relating to physical health, Mrs. Wright discloses that she values being physically fit by walking out and eating healthy. She attributes her decision to remain healthy to the available information on the hazards of physical fitness. She also notes that she has a compelling force to perfect her physical health because she is a woman and wants to remain beautiful. Her self-consciousness about being attractive is a reflection of the kind of society she lives. The society she lives emphasizes on physical appearance. As a teacher, she also wants to have the strength to teach. Health is thus her main motivation for attempting to be physically fit.

A question touching on her love life and family was also asked. She disclosed that she wishes to have a successful marriage and thus is working hard to fulfill her part of the bargain. She insists on having her emotional life placed on the check (Carter & Glick, 2008). She charges this on the stability of a love relationship she enjoys with her husband. Most importantly, she attributes her happiness as a woman to the entire family setup she has with her husband and children (Peterson & Bush, 2013). What best works for her is the support base that these people provide for her. She expresses passion and commitment for marriage love life.

Social life forms a big part of her. When asked what her take was on social life, she attributes a big portion of her happiness to the fact that she has a good network of friends around her. She confesses to having a vibrant social life, with friends both at home and at the workplace. Her immediate and extended family also forms a good team of friends. What she advise on this is that it is prudent to have good friends rely on as it allows a person to advance a comfortable life. According to her, friendship is a way of cushioning oneself against the unpredictability of life. Friends form a good support base needed at different times in life.

Mrs. Wright also answered a question is touching her economic life and general welfare. She was asked to give her take on wealth and who was responsible for creating it in the family setting. Her response was that family life can only be smooth if there are sufficient finances. This calls for the need to work hard to make money for the entire family. On responsibility, she notes that both husband and wife needs are expected to contribute to the family finances. She is very particular that without enough money, there cannot be a comfortable and successful marriage. True to her words, most families currently face rocky times due to matters relating to finances. Family money tops the list of priorities that should be considered when setting up a home (Young, 2012). Children are the main reason families should have sufficient money. Health, education, and food bills are the most required. Using her case where she has four schooling children, she notes that children bills top the other bills in life.

A question was also asked her about her take on social security and inheritance. She notes that families are most assured of happiness and peace of mind when they have proper arrangements for their welfare. Her take was that the government has a significant role in securing the social welfare of the citizens. She, however, charges individual citizens to lead their families to have constructive family arrangements that will ensure their social security. Social security is one crucial part of family involving children. It assures one of continued comfort despite changes in economic life.

It was interesting hearing from her on her take on death. Her observation was that death is real, and although she knew this, she did not harbor thoughts about her death. This has made her not exercise such life precautions as writing a will. She notes that she felt doing so instills some fear about death and as well spoil the happiness of being alive. She also confided that she believes there is life after death, as written in the holy books. As a religious woman, she expressed no worry that her death was that scary and worth considering (Carter & Glick, 2008).

When asked about the plans she had for her children in case she died, she cited that she intends to accumulate sufficient wealth that will take them for a good time. She said that she had shared the same with her husband, and she saw it as the best way to go about it. Death is an eventuality of life that people need to expect and plan for (Kornfeld, Waters, & Furgang, 2013). She also discloses that her husband was the idea of writing a will and she had no problem with it. Her take on the kind of life she wanted to live was that she wished to have her children finish school before dying. Death seemed to scare her only if it came before she was done educating her children.