Importance and Values of Marriage - Essay Example

Importance and Values of Marriage Human beings are inherently asocial beings meaning that they cannot live singly. There are several ways of bonding with each other, mostly members of the opposite sex. The primary method is through marriage. Marriage offers individuals a chance to not only procreate, or raise children, but also gives them a companion through which social and financial support is guaranteed. There are several other reasons people may marry, but the above two are the main ones. To understand why marriage is so important to individuals and the society, it is important to give the definition of the term. Marriage is a social institution in which two persons, whether the opposite or same sex, make the decision of a supposed lifetime commitment. Marriage is also a contract that is recognized by the law as a formal union between two persons. It gives both partners certain rights and duties permitting them to rule their family life on the right path. Marriage is a way of allowing people to build their trust on each other, to form a family in which they will have children and to solidify their union in a religious and even a traditional way. It is paramount for two people to become involved in a serious relationship and get married to a significant other, in order to become responsible, well-respected people. Marriage tends to lead people into making better decisions in their lives. Most of the best citizens are more likely to be the ones who are married. They respect the decisions made by the law; they are the most engaged people in a community. Marriage brings spiritual stability and builds trust. Before delving deeper into expressing the importance of a marriage to the society and maybe its value, it is crucial that a few definitions of what marriage is are given. According to the Oxford Dictionary marriage, is a "the formal union of a man and a woman, typically as recognized by law, by which they become husband and wife". Anthropologists have proposed several competing definitions of marriage so as to encompass the wide variety of marital practices observed across cultures. There have been other definitions of the term marriage as there are those who increasingly feel that the already existing definitions do not cover everything a marriage apparently entails. Marriage is said to be a more or less durable connection between men and women and lasts beyond the mere act of propagation till after the birth of the offspring. There is still a lot that is left out in this particular definition. In regard to the definitions given above, marriage as a social institution has some aspects change over the course of a specified period. Islam states that marriage is an act of worship providing a legitimate intimate relationship between a woman and a man. Marriage offers the society continuation of life. With marriage, children are born (one of the fundamental importance of marriage is procreation). If a person marries, they have a chance to have children which brings about continuation of the human race. This may not mean that if there is no marriage then children will not be born. The truth is there will be children but born out of wedlock. There are advantages associated with raising children in a stable family. A marriage makes sure it is the responsibility of the parents to take care of the children they have given birth to ensuring that they have food, clothing, housing, and a decent education. If the child was born out of wedlock, it becomes very difficult to ensure that the children can have all the things they need. In the world today, there is one thing that is very debatable; Monogamy. The idea that people are mostly monogamous as highlighted by most societies needs to be supported by biology but the truth it, it is not. On looking at human beings and other animals, even those in the wild, something that is predominant in the way the animals bond is they are mainly polygamous. Indeed, only a mere 3 percent depict a monogamous trait (Sukel para 3). In other words, it can be concluded that animals and people in no way are monogamous. A quick definition of what monogamy means is that marriage bond between a single man a single woman. The opposite of this is polygamy where the marriage relationship is between one spouse and several others of the opposite gender. In Islam, for example, a man can marry up to four wives and there exists inequality between men and women with women being the marginalized group (Sonbol 61). In Christianity, it is a requirement to stick with only a single woman. Scientists have researched on monogamy in animals. They have shown particular emphasis on Prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster) and concluded that the animal is monogamous (Sukel 4). Regardless, the rodents cheat on their mates although they remain socially bonded to the mate. Human beings are socialized to become monogamous yet biology does not support the idea as seen above. Recent development in research is showing interest in creating prescription drugs that will strengthen the bond between a monogamous family. The central question is why such drugs should be if nature itself does not support monogamy (Sukel para 3). The essence of marriage in a society is that it brings about a need for sexual fidelity that is an important part of bringing about a sense of security and purpose in a marriage institution (Gabel 5). Nonetheless, the marriage system has changed with an increasing number choosing not to marry but cohabit. In cohabitation, unfortunately, there is not a single solemn ritual that shows the consummation of the ‘marriage’ which means that some given vows do not bind the man and the woman in the marriage. While marriages are declining, cohabitation is on the rise. Today, there is fifteen times the number of cohabitating couples than there were in 1960 (Gabel 3). In cohabitation, there is also less economic security as couples are not ‘officially’ entitled to each other’s finances and only live together without a long-term plan or direction as stated above. Men in a community known as the Kipsigi in Kenya would marry women so that they can boost their (men’s) finances. Since women were associated with reproductive labor and thus the growing of food crops, men married them so that they could work on their farms and bring in profits when the produce was sold. When the price of produce fell, the dowry value dropped (Kevane 35). During slavery, there were several necessities that slaves were denied to enjoy. Among them was freedom that included that of raising a family through being committed to a marriage institution. The diasporic Africans generally adopted some of their ancestor’s beliefs and practices and those of the Europeans and the Americans. When the whites or rather the ‘masters’ wanted to promote slavery, they legalized marital unions (Parry para 3). While this strategy did not succeed in saving the Americans from the international critics objected to slavery, it underscored the importance of marriage in any society. With time, although the Africans were really not given an easy time to settle down and start a family, the need to raise a family helped challenge and overturn “the brutal conditions of the Atlantic slavery” (Parry para 4). In conclusion, marriage is no doubt the most important component of a society as it binds people together as a single unit. As discussed above, marriage gives a sacred shape to carnal desires. One of the main characteristics of marriage, normally under those conducted under Christianity, Muslim, or any other religions on the planet, is that marriage is noble. Marriage brings about progeny, tranquility, and continuation of life with not only purity but responsibility also. As seen above, it is the reason people should marry. With the marriage comes the issue of monogamy and polygamy. While most societies support the idea of an individual staying faithful to a single spouse, the fact is not even biology supports monogamy as only a mere 3 percent of animals are. Maybe it is time people let nature take its course. Works Cited Gabel, Aja. "The Marriage crisis" America Now, 10th edition. Kevane, Michael. "Marriage in Africa: simple economics." Ahfad Journal 19.2 (2002): 24-41. Parry, Tyler Dunsdon. "Love and Marriage: Domestic Relations and Matrimonial Strategies Among the Enslaved in the Atlantic World." (2014). Sonbol, Amira El-Azhary. "Shari"Ah and State Formation: Historical Perspective." Chicago Journal of International Law 8.1 (2007): 59-83 Sukel, Kayt "Rethinking Monogamy" America Now, 10th edition. Read More