Marriage Essays (Examples)

Marriage is a social institution with strong political overtones. The institution has created and enforced gender norms throughout every human society in all historical eras. Therefore, one of the reasons marriage works is because it is often strictly enforced with social codes. Marriage is only now starting to fall out of favor, and is being viewed more and more as an option rather than as an expectation. Yet there are still societal and personal pressures placed on individuals, making marriage work on a collective level. Thus, marriages work well in societies with strict taboos against divorce and even in societies with arranged marriages. Even on a personal level, arranged marriages that are socially sanctioned are often more likely to develop into deep and lasting connections between the spouses. As Bentley (2011) points out, "arranged marriages are far more likely to lead to lasting affection than marriages of passion." The reason…

Both exogamy and endogamy were common in the past. For instance race-based differentiation in marriages were enacted as laws and they originated in the American colonies within the seventeenth century.in many cases laws outlawed, criminalized and even banned marriages between whites and "negroes" or "mulattoes." These bans went on even after United Sates was founded. This is an example of endogamy whereby people were only allowed to get married to individuals from their group in this case their race. Whites were only allowed to get married to whites and "Negroes" were only allowed to marry their fellow "negroes." In the past people were also expected to get married outside their age groups. This means that people with the same age were not expected to marry each other.in many cases a husband was supposed to be older or from a different age group from the wife. This is an example of…

Marriage and Divorce
Interview One: Olivia/College Student

When Olivia speaks of her own relationship, she does exhibit some of the traits common to young people when selecting a mate, meaning that she admitted to being attracted to her boyfriend initially based on his smile, and height, also citing his sense of humor as something which drew her towards him.

Olivia demonstrates some practical notions of marriage, along with some that are still incredibly youthful, which appear to whitewash some of the nuances and intricacies of marriage. For example, Olivia does explain that she thinks a couple should be together for at least three years before marriage to really test their compatibility with one another. Olivia also explains that marriage is something where both parties should openly discuss the details of it -- such as when the marriage will occur and where the couple will live. She also seems to view…

2. Should marriage be a path to citizenship for an American citizen's alien spouse, children, siblings, or parents? Discuss the pros and cons of prioritizing family reunification in our immigration policies.

Marriage should certainly be a path towards American citizenship. People should be free to determine their spouse and this choice should not be restricted to any geographic area. It is often the case that love knows no boundaries. Individuals should therefore not be limited by geographic restrictions when choosing a partner. Because of this it would be a crime to separate spouse based on immigration policies. Furthermore, children who certainly need their parents should also be included in similar categories in the eyes of immigration policy. However, the less immediate question is more difficult. There would have to be a line drawn somewhere and siblings might not be a close enough relationship to justify a path to citizenship and…

Marriage - After the itual is Over
Marriage: After the itual is Over

Marriage as a lifestyle is far different from the actual wedding. Unfortunately, many people are very focused on the ritual of getting married and not focused on what takes place after the ritual is over. Sometimes this is so pervasive that it can cloud a person's judgment as it relates to the person he or she is marrying - or whether he or she even wants to be married at all (Beck, 2011). Getting married (the wedding) and being married (spending a lifetime together through sickness and health, etc.) are two very separate things. While this is realized on a logical level, it is not always as deeply realized on an emotional level. Getting to that point of deep, emotional understanding of the commitment being made is a very important thing to do for any couple considering…

Marriage and Dating in the Middle Ages
Throughout the ages the ideals a marriage is based on have greatly fluctuated. Whereas the practice of arranged marriages isn't common in the Western world, during the Middle Ages, marriages were often arranged on the basis of land ownership, or the acquiring of power and wealth.

Dating in the Middle Ages was practically an obsolete step in the higher classes. Classes were not allowed to inter-marry, let alone date.

Most instances of dating would have probably occurred in the lower classes where arranged marriages were not common.

From the 9th Century, the Church increasingly claimed marriage as one of its sacraments; however, despite some efforts at a complete clerical takeover, the marriage service remained the work of the couple, with the priest merely a witness" (Gardiner & Wenborn, 1995).

Nevertheless, friends and family members often played an intricate part in arranging a marriage…

On one hand, there does seem to be advantages that can be gained through marriage; especially for females. However, on the other hand, these indicators are compiled through aggregates of large samples. Therefore these findings do not suggest that any individuals should use these findings to try to plan their lives. Correlation does not equal causation and individuals should attempt to make good decisions that are not necessarily based on these findings.
3. The APA page contains the following report on how race and socioeconomic status can impact marital satisfaction: http://www.apa.org/science/about/psa/2010/10/race-marriage.aspx Discuss some of the findings of this report and their implications.

According to census reports fewer African-American adults are married (44% males and 37% females) compared to Asians (65% males and females), Latinos (56% males and 58% females), and hites (62% males and 58% females) however studies going beyond demographics suggest that regardless of age or education, married African-Americans…

Why stay together? Dean would like to stay for the child's sake, but he realizes that Cindy does not want him and that their dysfunctional relationship may actually harm the child.
The economic difficulties the couple faces are not so real as Cindy makes them seem. She wants security, but of a different kind than Dean provides. He is not going anywhere and makes a decent living -- but it is not enough for her.

The social vulnerabilities which they experience are evident in their respective outlooks on society and the world around them. Dean tends to be content with what he has, but when others (like Cindy's former boyfriend) appear and try to intrude, he becomes anxious and upset. Cindy feels the weight of society bearing down on her. One has the sense that if only these two could escape society, their marriage might have a chance.

The French…

Marriage implies different meanings based on the time and place of the culture and people concerned. Some notions about marriage are clear for some people and absurd for others. None of the notions are either right or erroneous, but only refers to different forms of marriage. Thoughts of one culture should not be forced on other cultures. The viewpoints vary, that is, some believe in multiple marriage partners while others believe in having only straight marriages yet others believe in certain age restrictions. It is impracticable for governments to permit their people get into all forms of marriage according to the likings of people. Certain known specifications are needed for legal contracts to have legal value. Making one type of marriage legal leads to isolation and standardization of marriage ultimately results in codifying traditions into static legal codes and making them sluggish as society transforms. (Marriage: www.vexen.co.uk)
Thus, legalized forms…

Marriage Stability
The success of marriage has been shown to depend on a number of variables, such as interpersonal competence (Cole and Cole, 1999), personal meanings of marriage (Timmer and Orbuch, 2001), socioeconomic status, education, wife religiosity (Brown, Orbuch, and Bauermeister, 2008), and close ties to parents (Orbuch, Bauermeister, Brown, and McKinley, 2013). The vast majority of research has focused on the perspective of parents and the various variables that influence marriage stability. By comparison, little attention has been paid to the perspective of children despite research showing that divorce can have a dramatic and negative impact on the social, psychological, and economic well-being of children (Wallerstein, Lewis, and osenthal, 2013). This research study will investigate the perspective of unmarried adults who came from either a broken or intact home and whether they believe close family ties had a significant influence on marriage stability.

Conceptual and Operational Definition

This study…

Marriage: this I call the will that moves two to create the one which is more than those who created it -- Friedrich Nietzsche.
Have you ever noticed that there are some phrases or expressions that their definition is not accurate enough for us? I think that "marriage" is one of them. Almost everyone has an idea of what marriage is to him or her. If you ask different people around the world what marriage means to them, they will tell you a slightly or maybe noticeably different definition than yours. The Concept of marriage is different between one culture and another. For example, even though one person may think of a marriage as a symbol of endless love brought together by a ceremony, another person may think of the marriage concept as a business exchange so one can be wealthier. Interestingly, different religions see marriage in various ways. According…

This is essential if we are to ensure that children receive proper and stable parenting - which is so essential to child development in all areas.
Debate and different views as to new modes and methods of improving and promoting family and marriage have their place. However, this does not mean that the ideal of family should in any sense be diminished or discarded.

ibliography

arber, N. (2000) Why Parents Matter: Parental Investment and Child Outcomes. 2000. Westport, CT: ergin & Garvey Publishers.

ourg, F.C. (2004). A Christian Theology of Marriage and Family. Theological Studies, 65(1), 208+.

uckley, W.F. (2003, December 22). Does Marriage Matter?. National Review, 55, 59. Retrieved October 30, 2005, from Questia database: http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=5009237170

Ishwaran, K. & Mogey, J.M. (Eds.). (1963). Family and Marriage. Leiden, The Netherlands E.J. rill. Retrieved October 30, 2005, from Questia database: http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=6360788

Kuttner, R. (2002, April 8). The Politics of Family. The…

Marriage as Captivity:
The Short Fiction of O'Henry and Chopin

The short stories "The Gift of the Magi" by O. Henry and "The Story of an Hour" by Kate Chopin explore the nuances of married life in memorable and plaintive manners. At first glance, these two short stories appear to be very different and portray the institution of marriage in dramatically distinct ways. However, the reality is that each story looks at a trend which can exist within a union between two people: the trend of captivity in marriage. Both Henry and Chopin's stories demonstrate the prevalence of captivity in marriage and how one's marriage partner can quickly become one's cell mate. Each other demonstrates a certain level of the imprisonment which can exist and thrive within marriage and how damaging this can be when allowed to thrive.

The "Gift of the Magi" at first glance appears to be a…

The event topic for day three focuses on evaluating each other's willingness to accept help from his or her partner. This relates to how couples make decisions within their marriage and brings up topics such as -- how to spend the holidays, time with each other, time with friends, practicing faith, relationship with families, careers, financial concerns, children, hobbies, and household responsibilities.

Working as a team is an important aspect of marriage; developing what Gottman (1999) describes as a sense of "we-ness" as opposed to a "me-ness" is vital for marriage success and longevity. Creating a sense of we-ness can be achieved through cognitive behavioral couples therapy. When one part of the couples has needs that are not being met, it is important these needs are communicated to one's spouse so that they can work together to find ways -- as a team -- for the spouse to have his…

The passion is certainly experienced on occasion but the emphasis is on security and partnership, not romance (Knox 1970).
Knox (1970) found that while this shift in perspective is mostly true, he also found that people shift once more at the end of life and swing back into the expectation and experience of romantic love. It is presumed that once all of the complications of establishing oneself in the adult world have been securely accomplished, attentions can then be moved to less practical matters like reviving, or seeking out new love.

All of these attitudes affect the day-to-day concerns of married couples. The most important issue that younger couples grapple is the financial aspects of the relationship. Living expenses as well as the expense of raising children has increased immensely over the last few generations and it is almost completely expected that the woman will work outside the home even…

Marriage and Divorce in the Bible
Marriage is often seen as a sacred engagement from a biblical perspective. The Bible does not spell out every detail of marriage, but makes it clear that certain requirements are necessary to make the union acceptable under God. Here, the research suggests that "it reflects the level of intimacy and commitment that distinguishes marriage from other relationships" (Carey, 2011). Marriage is the deepest relationship two individuals can have with one another. This relationship is based on respect and love, for one another, and for God. The Bible states that "love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no records of wrongs" (Corinthians 1:13). The Biblical assumptions of marriage require that God condone the union and remain at the…

Marriage vs. Cohabitation
Adulthood brings with it many milestones. Learning to drive, going to college, taking on new relationships -- all facets of life that many people strive toward. However, as time goes on, these milestones have veered from the traditional and into new territory. For instance, instead of heading down the aisle, many couples are choosing to bypass the formality and move right into cohabitation. Many would say that this custom demeans the sanctity of marriage, while others say it allows couples to really discover each other without the formalities. These opinions are only a few of the thousands of voices raised in favor or in opposition of the debate between marriage vs. cohabitation, and in comparing and contrasting the two, it can be seen that each option offers its own set of benefits and disadvantages.

Both marriage and cohabitation allow couples the ability to reside under the same…

The movie also draws attention to the significance of emphatic listening, from the begging the wife walks off on Dave when talking to her and through the movies it is noted that the mother does the communication for the daughter hence Mrs. Johnson is totally removed from the communication process and therefore lacks any empathy of what the husband feels. There is also the value of open communication and significance of confiding in each other as the married couple. Mr. And Mrs. Johnson never learnt to confide in each other and openly communicate with one another hence they confided in people outside their marriage like the desperate physiotherapist who took advantage of the fact that there was no one to take care of Dave and she would fit therein perfectly.
The movie also has a central focus on the value of God in any fruitful marriage. There is a constant…

Marriage and Government
In today's world, it is necessary to understand some of the complex and troubling aspects of the law, especially dealing with family and child development issues. Legal definitions are always changing to reflect the needs and desires of the populace that they are supposed to protect and serve. Marriage is one legal issue that has stirred controversy and presented many questions about the role of government and an individual's right to live and act as he deems necessary.

The purpose of this essay is to explain how the federal government has every legal right to determine who can get married and to whom. This essay will argue that governmental forces are like dogs and should serve humans to their ends. This essay will also present evidence suggesting that people get what they deserve when in comes to consenting with government interaction, and if any real freedom should…

Marriage and Divorce
There are many divorced (and also many remarried) Christians today, but Tom and Jane want to know what the Bible really says about the issue before they make what they consider to be a life-altering decision. Generally, there are four schools of thought on divorce and remarriage into which Christians fall. These are:

Divorce and remarriage are both acceptable

Divorce is acceptable but remarriage is not Divorce is acceptable but remarriage is only acceptable in certain circumstances

Divorce - and by extension remarriage - are never acceptable (Beck, 2011)

Despite the fact that the Bible is very clear on what it says about divorce and remarriage, there are still different interpretations of that information depending on the Christian who is asked the question. Some denominations are also more liberal in their teachings than others, and that can greatly affect what a Christian thinks and believes when it…

The ideal relationship can make use of effective modes of expression that are fully understood by the other person.
Summarizing, paraphrasing, validation, and clarification are the best ways to 'disagree and still be (loving) friends,' as in 'So, you're angry that I'm going to a Superbowl party rather than spending the weekend with you. I understand why you're angry and you feel like I'm abandoning you when we have so little time together. I'm glad my time means so much to you. Can you accept that this big game only happens once a year, and that I will make time for you next weekend?' Confrontation, defensiveness, and complaining are the roots, of unhappy marital relationships, where the true root of the conflict (the fact that the wife feels neglected and the husband desires more independence) become masked in wrangling over trivial issues (Strong, DeVault & Cohen, 2001: 188).

Love, although…

In that regard, it is hereby acknowledged that the female partner will have that greater burden but that apart from issues of physical comfort and sacrifice, each partner's emotional priorities relating to the specific choice will enjoy equal priority.
Childcare Expectations

It is hereby stipulated that the breakdown of childcare responsibilities will be dictated by the provisions of this contract relating to the division of household labor and the respective obligations to contribute financially to the household. Specifically, childcare shall be considered one element of household responsibilities and those responsibilities shall be borne in proportion to the respective financial and work-related contributions of the partners. In the event the partners contribute equally with respect to finances, they will share childcare responsibilities equally. The same variables that dictate household responsibilities more generally shall also govern childcare responsibilities.

It is hereby stipulated that the children shall take the same surname as the…

Obviously, Jesus feels that the impact of divorce is hardest upon children within the church because he proceeds from his preaching on marriage and divorce to blessing little children. Certainly, one can not think of anyone who is hurt more in divorce than children. They are the most devastated by divorce and therefore require his special attention and blessing. In Matthew 19:14 it says: "But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of [to] such is [as these, belongs] the kingdom of heaven (ibid.)."
What about in other verses in the Gospels? The doctrine laid down by Jesus in Matthew 19 is also laid down in Matthew 5, Luke 16 and in Mark 10. The reason for this doctrine being more strict than that laid down by Moses was due to the hard hearts of the children of Israel. Moses allowed a husband…

Part One: Single female ISO single male. Creative, ambitious, fearless, and passionate professional female seeks a partner with similar values. Ethnicity/race/socioeconomic class is irrelevant. What matters is a dedication to making the world a better place. I do prefer no baggage and no children from a previous relationship. Although we both may have parents with traditional values, they understand that our lives may look different from theirs and they will not pressure us to get married or have children before we are ready. You are not constrained by religion but neither are you cynical. You are as independent and free-spirited as I am, yet interested in a monogamous relationship. Together we can do more than we ever could on our own, and we thrive in each other’s company. We travel together, but we also maintain a home base near to our friends and family. I do not own property but…

Time is an invaluable resource as once it is lost, it can never be gained back. Without doubt, individuals constantly desire to have several more hours in the day to accomplish different tasks, not only personally but also in business. However, through time management it is very much possible for people to conduct their tasks on a daily basis and still have free time. The most ideal way of accomplishing time management is through a change in behavior and surroundings. It encompasses efficaciously employing the time available to accomplishing all tasks at hand. Organizing such tasks and prioritizing them in a sequence that makes the most of the time available facilitates time management. I believe that it is imperative to prioritize things and conduct things one phase at a time. The prospects of failing become greater when a person takes on several things at a go and haphazardly devoid of…

Case Study: The Browns Family Members:
Jordan Brown: Father / Husband, 37 Years Old
Felicia Brown: Mother / Wife, 31 Years Old
Arnold Brown: Son, 16 Years Old
Kelly Brown: Daughter, 4 Years Old
Felicia
Felicia is unhappy with her marriage and her prevailing life situation. Her husband, Jordan, is patriarchal and has been treating her poorly, and for several other reasons, Felicia is considering ending her marriage. Felicia has tried to mend her relationship, but her husband has been adamant with his words and actions. She has even gone further ahead to request Jordan to attend counseling, but he considers it to be unproductive and “something for sissies.” Felicia feels mistreated for several years now and does not see a solution in sight.
I am at odds at the present moment. Jordan forced me to leave my job because he thinks that a woman’s job is at the house.…

Marriage, Love and the Division of Household Labor Part 1
What does marriage mean in the U.S. today? For roughly half the people who marry it does not mean something permanent or “till death do us part”—for half of all marriages today end in divorce and as Pew Research Center points out, family sizes are getting smaller (marriage is no longer about having children) and family types are becoming more diverse: “Two-parent households are on the decline in the United States as divorce, remarriage and cohabitation are on the rise” (Pew Research Center, 2015). This is not much of a striking departure from where the status of marriage was in the 1990s—but if one goes back 50 years or 75 years, it is definitely a departure. The fact is that divorce has become more accepted as common place and marriage is now seen as something one tries—like trying on a…

Part 1 Technologies that parents use to look after their children include baby monitors, cell phones and GPS locators. Baby monitors are used to allow parents to be in another part of the house while the child is asleep or playing in a play pen. The parent can hear if the child cries and needs something. The parent can be busy with some other activity without fear or worry of abandoning the child because the parent is still connected via the baby monitor.
The cell phone can be used to reach out and call the older child or to post on social media or see what content the child is posting. The cell phone allows for both a quick and convenient way to contact the child and a way to monitor the child from a distance by looking at the child’s social media content. This is a window into the…

223) a person without a condition of some kind, was cruelly marginalized by society, as even the well-meaning people would avoid the connection with someone who was not seen well by the others, so as not to be marginalized in his or her turn. The situation of the woman is again entirely dependent on the man, since the society would not accept a woman who did not perform her usual role as a wife and a mother. Mrs. Smith marriage to a man who was not 'what he ought' obviously affects her long after the death of her husband: "Anne saw the misery of such feelings. The husband had not been what he ought, and the wife had been led among that part of mankind which made her think worse of the world than she hoped it deserved." (Austen, 2003, p. 212) as in Pride and Prejudice, there is an…

PETRUCHIO: They shall go forward, Kate, at thy command.-- Obey the bride, you that attend on her./Go to the feast, revel and domineer,/Carouse full measure to her maidenhead,/Be mad and merry, or go hang yourselves;/but for my bonny Kate, she must with me./Nay, look not big, nor stamp, nor stare, nor fret, 230I will be master of what is mine own./She is my goods, my chattels, she is my house,/My household stuff, my field, my barn,/My horse, my ox, my ass, my any thing,/and here she stands, touch her whoever dare!

Shakespeare 175)

The quote gives great insight into the end note of a marriage created in haste, with the intentions of personal and familial gain and with the closing of the marriage as a "contract" including the exchange of large sums of money for the groom and his family. Petruchio, makes his deal, getting his bride (then leaving her…

Marriage: A still-Evolving concept
Marriage is a ubiquitous social institution in our culture: it affects everything from how members of a married couple are defined by their families to their health insurance and how much they pay in taxes. Marriage dominates the cultural landscape of films, television shows, and Hallmark cards. But although the idea of heterosexual romantic love is taken for granted today, this has not always been the case. "For most of history it was inconceivable that people would choose their mates on the basis of something as fragile and irrational as love and then focus all their sexual, intimate, and altruistic desires on the resulting marriage….But only rarely in history has love been seen as the main reason for getting married" (Coontz 1). In ancient times, it was not unusual for a much younger woman to be married to a much older and more sexually and experienced…

esearch Method

esearch Design. Both quantitative and qualitative research methods were employed in this study. Instruments include self-report measures and personal narratives of 91 native Hindu married couples (182 participants) from three types of living arrangements that I have mentioned earlier. The qualitative part on the other hand was utilized via personal narratives of the participants (ibid, p.82).

esearch Instruments. For the quantitative part, marital happiness was assessed using the Locke-Wallace Marital Adjustment Test. The questionnaire also includes a demographic survey portion which was based on the National Health and Social Life Survey. Quantitative questions on intimacy and conflict can also be found in the questionnaire. For the qualitative part, the instrument devised explored 12 dimensions of the participant's lives: their expectations about their partner, career, self, well-being, intimacy, marital relationship, family living arrangements, in-laws, parents, their conflict history, good times they had shared, and the cultural norms guiding marriage…

In Europe and other Western societies, the individual may be expected to make some self sacrifices for the common good. The emphasis on social well-being and social integrity prevents people from frivolously terminating relationships, whether they be cohabitations or marriages. In the United States, cohabiting or marriage relationships are often terminated for reasons that can be easily classified as selfish in nature. Americans have conflicting beliefs and values related to marriage and cohabitation, though. Most Americans believe that marriage should last forever, yet an astonishing number of Americans do not work hard to make their marriages or domestic partnerships last (Cherlin, 2010).
One prevailing, and also paradoxical, belief in American society is that it is better for children to experience divorce than it is for the parents to remain in a relationship that is personally unfulfilling. Americans seem to value marriage and individualism at the same time, which can be…

George's argument preserves the fundamental truths that democracy in its most theocratic incarnation promotes, with regards to basing moral law on arbitrary grounds.
My position is precisely the same as George's: that same sex marriage is wrong and immoral. Same sex marriage affirms the value of sex for pleasure only, and is therefore an affront to moral law. Moral law, moreover, proclaims marriage as a union between one man and one woman with the intention of having children. Same-sex marriage is an affront to the concept of patriarchal law and the social contract between a man and a woman. It is inconceivable to allow the definition of marriage to expand beyond the natural law definition. If a democracy is founded on moral principles, then same sex marriage has no place in the society. Democracy promotes human rights. The pursuit of happiness is pursuant on moral principles, which, although rooted tacitly…

(PREP Inc. 2012)
ibliography

Allen, W. (1997). Replication of five types of married couples based on ENRICH. Unpublished dissertation. University of Minnesota. St. Paul, Minnesota.

rowning, DS (2003) Marriage and Modernization: How Globalization Threatens Marriage and What to do About it. Wm. . Eerdmans Publishing, 2003

Duvall, E.M. (1971). Family development, 4th ed. Philadelphia: Lippincott Co.

Fournier, D.G., & Olson, DH (1986). Programs for premarital and newlywed couples. In R.F.Levant (Ed.), Psychoeducational approaches to family therapy and counseling (pp. 194-231).New York: Springer.

Fournier, D.G., Springer, J. & Olson, DH (2010). Conflict and commitment in seven stages of premarital and marital relations. Unpublished manuscript, Dept. Of Family Social Science, University of Minnesota, St. Paul.

Fowers, .J., Montel, K.H., & Olson, DH (1996). Predictive validity of types of premarital coupes based on PREPARE. Journal of Marriage and Family Therapy, 22, 1, 103-119.

Fowers, .J. & Olson, DH (1992). Four types of premarital…

In J. Smith (Ed.), Understanding families into the new millennium: A decade in review (p. 357-381). Minneapolis, MN: National Council on Family Relations.
Ferree, M. (1984). The view from below: Women's employment and gender equality in working-class families. In .. Hess, & M.. Sussman (Eds), Women and the family: Two decades of change (p. 57-75). New York: Haworth Press.

Fung, J. (2010). Factors associated with parent-child (dis)agreement on child behavior and parenting problems in Chinese immigrant families. Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology, 3993), 314-327.

Hewlett, S., & West, C. (1998). The war against parents: What we can do for America's beleaguered moms and dads. New York: Houghton Mifflin.

Hwang, K., Chang, S., Chen, S., Chen, C., & Yang, K. (2001). Chinese relationism and depression. Unpublished manuscript.

Lai, E., & Fang, S. (2001). Sex role attitude and housework participation among men and women in Taiwan. Paper presented at the…

Marriage Views
Smedley, Agnes. Daughters of Earth. 1929. The Feminist Press of CUNY Reissue 1987.

It is interesting to read Agnes Smedley's philosophy of marriage as expressed in the early feminist classic Daughters of Earth in light of the current controversy over gay marriage. The author takes an explicitly deflationary view of marriage's effect upon women, and also to a lesser extent, a negative view of the male's participation in what she considers a form of social bondage. Rather than seeing personal connections as a source of positive alliance between individuals, she sees marriage as a threat to society and the formation of effective unions of labor and politics.

Smedley calls marriage "a relic of human slavery," rather than as a potential right all human beings ought to strive to. Because of the history of marriage and its limiting legal and social constraints upon the female partner, the author believes…

Marriage in Literature: "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty" and "The Story of an Hour"
On the surface, it would not seem as though Thurber's "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty" and Kate Chopin's "The Story of an Hour" would be comparable because of their varying tones, the former is comedic and the latter is more serious, and themes, escapism vs. reality. However, at the heart of both stories is a marriage that is unhappy. In both stories, the protagonist has been slowly suffocated by their husband or wife. They both are extremely unhappy in their unions and use their imagination to escape their realities. The stories differ in how the protagonist deals with the intrusion of reality into their happy fantasy; one continues on in the fantasy world, making it less and less likely that he can survive within reality and one admits that she cannot return to reality…

The eye moves easily around the painting and its different elements. People are the focal point of "The Marriage Feast at Cana." However, the bright blue sky and the cheerful trees in the background suggest that the party is not merely a debauch occasion. There is a genuine sense of joy in the painting. Ricci emphasizes a few elements to let the viewer understand the subject matter. The table is the focal point of the marriage feast. Unlike the Last Supper, this is a joyous occasion at which wine flows copiously and music fills the air. Ricci places a few young musicians in the foreground for this very reason. With the color red, the eye is naturally drawn as well towards the musicians in the sky box.

Contrast is one of the visual elements that make "The Marriage Feast at Cana" outstanding. Shadows allow many elements to come to the…

" (Young, 1792; as cited in Readings of European History, 1906)
Young states that he has even see a 'poor' child run over and killed by the young rich nobility who ride at fast speeds and carelessly in the streets of Paris. Young however, speaks of the countryside as an ordered and lovely place as he states: "A succession of many well-built, tight, and comfortable farming cottages, built of stone and covered with tiles; each having its little garden, enclosed by clipped thorn hedges, with plenty of peach and other fruit trees, some fine oaks scattered in the hedges, and young trees nursed up with so much care that nothing but the fostering attention of the owner could effect anything like it. To every house belongs a farm, perfectly well enclosed, with grass borders mown and neatly kept around the cornfields, with gates to pass from one enclosure." (Young, 1792;…

Marriage and the Family
hen studying the dynamics of marriage, family, children, and all the interactions and psychological components that go along with being a family, there are decisions that must be made in that milieu that hold enormous importance. Those decisions should be based on a firm knowledge of what parents are supposed to do when it comes to children; what married people are supposed to do when it comes to their love and relationship; and what the family is supposed to do when it comes to being part of a neighborhood and of a community. This paper is a personal reflection on those dynamics but I zero in on the psychological needs of the child, no matter how successful the marriage is or isn't. In fact, when things are not going well in a marriage or a relationship that has produced a child -- or when the child…

Even in private people have a sense of what is or is not appropriate -- like whether the lights should be left on or off. hen, might be only after marriage, only after the children are asleep, and only when the parents are away -- or only when on vacation with an 'unsuitable individual.' here might be the bedroom, the backseat, or not in public, again depending on the particular societal norms one subscribes to, and the norms of one's partner. And why might be only for procreation (the only acceptable reason in some societies or cultures) or for pleasure (in some cultures, prostitutes for pleasure, marital partners for procreation might be the 'rule') (Strong, DeVault & Cohen, 2005, p.241).
The variety of answers to the sexual script questions of 'who, what, when, where and why' underline how culture and context set a sexual script, as well as personal physical…

" It said that an expanding range of adult parenting arrangements and the growing disconnection between marriage and children. The report believed that it would be wise to examine the events, which have been happening. Canada recently stood at the forefront of Western nations in instituting radical changes in family law. The U.S.A. seemed to be taking the same direction (Cere).
The dominant stand among legal elites, including the two groups, which wrote the two reports, was that the family law should not aim at protecting the rights of children to grow up with their own, married parents (Cere 2005). Instead, it should protect and promote a concept called "family diversity." The stand drew from the belief that societies flourished when people of different backgrounds lived and worked together. The authors of the reports argued that society would be better off with all kinds of families co-existing and viewed as…

Marriage/Couplecounselingandissues in Family Therapy
Marriage/coupleCounseling andIssues in Family Therapy

Marriage/couple counseling and Issues in Family Therapy

Marriage/couple counseling and Issues in Family Therapy

Marriage counseling and its Purpose

easons of Divorce

ecommendations for Counseling

Family Therapy

Issues of Family Therapy

This paper is about the importance of marriage counseling and the significant role it can play in the lives of many couples. It also highlights the significance and issues of family therapy.

Marriage counseling and its Purpose

Marriage counseling has become quiet famous these days.It plays a key role in circumstances of domestic abuse. It is also known as couple's therapy and is a kind of psychotherapy. Marriage counseling is an effective measure that can play a vital role in recognizing the root of the problem that exists among a couple and helps in solving conflicts and improving relationships. It can be immensely helpful in making wise decisions about a…

SBFT focuses on the aim a couple wants to achieve. It centers on talking about the present and future conditions of both the partners. Some of the major contributions in the field were made by Milton Erickon, who provided the basics of hypnotic techniques. He asserted the use of hypnosis techniques to discuss with couples the existing and potential problems in their marital life. He focused on the effective and open two way communication regarding all issues of marital life including trust, expectations, sex, and excessive alcohol use (or abuse) by one of the partners and other similar issues (Erickson, 1976). Erickson made use of his proposed hypnosis techniques in counseling couples for solution of all the problems by letting them speak their heart. A

wide variety of hypnotic techniques is of great importance in marriage preparation for the couples who have some issues between them before marriage.

The basis…

Marriage of Homosexuals
Homosexual Marriage

The practice of homosexuality might be perceived as offensive to some; others might view this act as a violation of their culture and of their religious preferences. Still others view homosexuality as a threat to the institution of a traditional marriage. hile the objection to homosexuality and homosexual marriage might range in its content, the one thing should be considered is the level of freedom that individuals are allotted to make their own decisions. If two people have certain personal preferences that do not physically harm anyone else then what kind of control should be exerted over their own personal decisions? Does the majority or lawmakers have the right to infringe on personal freedoms just because they don't agree with personal choices? I argue that the state has no right whatsoever to deny freedoms to this class of individuals simply on the basis that it…

Marriage
Social Pressure to Have or Not Have Children

In the November issue of edbook magazine two articles are available discussing children. The first article discusses TV in the bedroom and its effects on children, and the next discusses strategies for getting kids to sleep at night. The amount of coverage given to children in this magazine is small compared with the overall content of the magazine, however the overall message presented in the book is that it is acceptable if not very common and expected to have children.

A small portion of the advertisements in this magazine is dedicated to children, roughly 2% of the total magazine. The article suggests that children are difficult in some respects. Some subjects covered include trying to et children to sleep through the night which appears a difficult task, trying to talk with children about sleep and avoiding over stimulating children with too…

They experienced things, such as sex and drugs, earlier than others, but their adolescence lasted longer because it was hard to break away from their single parent. Divorce affects these children most of all during adulthood. In romantic relationships, fear of abandonment can make them choose people they feel safe with, even though the partner may be abusive. She found that only 40% of those now in their 30s and 40s are married. The rest live in various kinds of relationships from cohabitation to still dating. More than 50% have chosen to not have children "because they believe they know too little about good parenting" (New 1).
Childhood is not fun for children of divorced families. They talk about logistics surrounding the holidays and the stress from two parents who vie for their love. They have memories of sadness and loneliness surrounding holidays, rather than happy memories. They were not…

Again, in the scene where William and Anna reach her hotel, he is literally shocked out seeing that Anna has a boy friend who suddenly visits her. Instead of creating a scene he silently withdraws from the place with composure. These two instances show that William is a calm, steady and a levelheaded person who is not easily carried away by the sudden sway of emotions. This is an important quality for forging true relationships. Communication is again very vital to the success of a relationship. Open and healthy communication with the partner would avoid escalation and negative interpretations. In the movie we see that at least in two situations Anna hurts William's feelings under unexpected circumstances. (When the Paparazzi encircle his house and when her earlier boy friend suddenly shows up) However, she is quick to apologize and explain the unforeseen nature of the situation to William.

One other…

Couples might do everything that they are required to do and follow all the rules. They will never work if one's personal standpoint with regards to marriage is defective. They need to work on solving their marital issue because they believe in and want to cherish its value. It will never produce the same effect if a couple is seeking out ways to make it seem valuable. A majority of therapists who work on the problems of others might have been divorced themselves and are in the business just for the money. They are just professionals who are certified as a therapist based on their education. They are far from being perfect and can even induce couples to actually go through with divorce when they find themselves hopelessly ineffective in a particular situation. A lot of couples still go for marital therapy even though they are aware of such occurrences.…

Philosophy of Marriage
In The Prophet, poet Kahlil Gibran says of marriage, "let there be spaces in your togetherness...Love one another, but make not a bond of love: Let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls." My philosophy of marriage closely resembles Gibran's, as I feel that all couples in long-term relationships need to cultivate their selfhood and independence while remaining committed to the relationship. Marriage is tricky in that sense: the ideal of oneness and unity is usurped by the reality of personal boundaries and personal needs. Being single, I don't contend with the ups and downs that married people do. However, my philosophy of marriage includes a continual renewal of respect to avoid taking the relationship and the other person for granted. Moreover, most marriages suffer from waxing and waning affections. Therefore, I believe that all persons in committed relationships need to roll…

According to the authors, this dynamic that many contemporary views consider to be a universal fact of life actually evolved only after the social changes introduced by the Industrial evolution. In fact, any so-called "modern" shift to a more egalitarian sharing of family responsibilities represents more of a return to the more natural state of families than any "radical" or "new" approach.
Branden (1999) agrees, again tying in excessive adherence to typical male and female roles as a potential source of unnecessary strain, especially where marital partners may be better suited to a different arrangement or sharing of responsibilities. Likewise, oberts (2007) also acknowledges the damage caused to marriage by dissatisfaction, especially among wives, as to the roles prescribed to them by society.

Myth # 4 - the Unstable African-American Family:

In their criticism of the notion that the African-American community reflects a lower level of marital and family stability…

Media Representations of Marriage Coaching
Marriage Counseling

Media Representations of Marriage Counseling

The protagonists of the film are three married couples who are all friends and attend church together. Each couple experiences tension and discontent with their marriages. Rather than each wife and each husband taking personal responsibility for their actions that contributed to the unpleasant state of the marriage, each spouse wishes to force a change upon his/her spouse. While attending a church service one Sunday, the pastor introduces another couple that invites couples in trouble to a marriage retreat in the mountains. When they arrive in the mountains, what the couples think will happen and what they actually experience are vastly different. Through various activities, therapies, and accidents, the couples come to rediscover what they love about each other, ways to strengthen their marriage, as well as ways to improve themselves as individuals. The retreat weekend is an…

The authors follow this by questioning the equality of benefit for both partners. Even while criminally-minded men benefit, their female spouses may suffer ill effects that would not have been the case had they remained unmarried. This is a good basis for future study of another dimension of the effect of marriage on criminal activity.
Do determine the causality of marriage as a deterrent for crime, the authors use counterfactual methods, or causal inference. This means that observational data are used to determine the causal relationship between marriage and crime reduction.

The inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) is a statistical method that helped the authors handle the consideration of bias. The population for study was then chosen accordign to factors such as measured itnelligence, competence, self-control, and temperament as relevant to marriage selection. Other, more traditional factors were also included as potential predictors for marriage, such as employment and…

Moreover, whereas previous generations accepted the general assumption that parenthood is a necessary eventuality for all adults, many contemporary adults absolutely reject that presupposition. To a large extent, the assumption that procreation is a necessary goal of marriage originated in religious beliefs about biblical commandments to "be fruitful and multiply." The need for children to help support the family also factored heavily into the natural assumption toward having large families (Barash & Lipton, 2001).

As a result, many adults question the need for a lifetime commitment to another person, particularly since long-term sexual fidelity and happiness in marriage are apparently more the exception than the rule (Branden, 2003). Finally, many contemporary adults are reconsidering the entire concept of parenthood simply from the realization that not everyone is necessarily happier as a parent. In fact, a substantial percentage of parents admit that with the benefit of 20/20 hindsight, they might have…

On one hand, parenthood is tremendously rewarding for people who make the decision to become parents the right way. On the other hand, even in the best case scenario, child-rearing is also one of the most difficult and stressful of life's experiences that a couple can share.
In many cases, young couples assume they will necessarily become parents simply because that is what is expected of them and because they are socialized to believe that everyone should become a parent. Consider how infrequently anyone ever asks couples (or single individuals, for that matter) if they're planning on becoming parents. Usually, it is more or less assumed that parenthood less a specific decision and more just an inevitable stage of life that everyone goes through (Bradshaw, 2002).

In fact, not everyone is necessarily cut out for parenthood but that is comparatively less often presented as a realistic option for healthy married…

According to the Institute for American Values, family scholars support the findings that on average, married couples are more likely than cohabiting couples or singles to build more wealth. Further, past findings have indicated that single motherhood or divorce could make children and their mothers vulnerable to poverty (Institute for American Values n.p.). Marriage hence enhances the financial stability of partners. This is more so the case given the challenging economic times we now live in. The need to raise children in a stable familial setting is yet another reason why marriage still matters. According to the Institute for American Values, findings supported by leading family scholars indicate that children who are not raised in an intact marriage are more likely to either become unwed parents or divorce altogether. Marriage in most societies as Ferraro and Andreatta point out "creates a set of family relationships that provide the material, educational,…

The study examined three developmental models of marital stress and divorce -- the enduring dynamics model, the disillusionment model, and the emergent distress model. According to the enduring dynamics model, a couple's courtship experiences accurately predict what their marriage will be like (Huston 304). In this model, marriages show distress from the beginning and typically end quickly in divorce. Huston explains that spouses are less in love and more antagonistic toward each other than happily married couples. Additionally, they are usually quite young when they marry and come from unhappy family environments (317).
The disillusionment model suggests that couples enter a marriage happily, but subsequently the "mundane concerns prevail and the romance begins to fade, particularly when the spouses discover that their mate is not as affectionate and wonderful as they were during courtship" (Huston 305). Under this model, according to Huston, it is the movement away from the romantic…

Monogamous Nuclear Families, Polygamous and Communal Families
Family has different connotations for different persons and cultures. In American society, the word is usually meant to denote a nuclear family consisting of a father, mother and their children. However the meaning of family in Asia is different because the family includes the grandparents, relatives and siblings of the elders. Family thus would also denote an entire clan. In African communities the Mormon system has its own connotation of family. Most of the world has some form of plural marriage, or polygamy, and is sanctioned by religions. Polygamy is not a non-western practice, but also exists in modern Western societies. (Koktvedgaard Zeitzen, 2008)

The common type of family being the nuclear family, the other types have all along attracted researchers to attempt to find an anthropological theory for polygamy that has spread to U.S. And UK to Malaysia, India, regions of Africa…

Marriage Coaching Book eviewSummaryMarriage Coaching: Heart, Hope, and Skills for a Great elationship (2011) is a book by Jeff and Jill Williams that provides insight into how to be a good listener, a good asker, a good goal setter, how to be supportive, how to be accountable, how to manage crises, and how to coach a marriage. The central idea is that married couples can self-monitor their own marriage to make sure it is healthy and on the right track. Supporting this idea are the various chapters that explain what skills are required and how to obtain or use these skills.The book begins by highlighting the need for hope and perseverance, as these are both Christian virtues that a Christian marriage needs in order to survive. Without either, no…