Homosexual and Heterosexual Marriages - Essay Example

"Homosexual/Heterosexual Marriages" Relationships are based on true love, trust and understanding. If these components are found, any relationship can last long and stable. The strength of relationships lie in the willingness of partners to live and interact with each other. However, it is seen that when the natural trend of marriage is followed two major groups are found: Homosexuals and heterosexuals. This paper would further describe the similarities and differences between of homosexual and heterosexual marriages.

Homosexual and heterosexual relationships are alike in a number of ways. According to Baxter (1986) they are similar firstly because in both cases the partners demand for a romantic association and in this case the gender does not matter as their need is being fulfilled. Tripp (1981) declares that homo and heterosexual marriages are comparable because both are set up on a vow to understand each other, to provide with strong support and love and also to fulfill sexual needs and desires of each other.

Tripp explains an optimal space between partners and explains that to promote sexual attraction there's a need to have some differences and some intimacy, a massive amount of either of these is awful for a healthy relationship. Male and female genetic and emotional dissimilarity set up a distance for attraction, where men and women are made complementary from beginning. "Each sex becomes systematically incompetent regarding tasks and abilities ascribed to the opposite sex" (Tripp, 1981, p. 68).

McWhirter and Mattison (1984) declare that in homosexual marriages, one of the partners demonstrate inability in some of the tasks which the other partner enjoys to carry out. Studies reveal that traditional marriages bring much happiness and more likely to bring less misery for the partners. Traditional marriages provide an extra 8 years of life to the partners. They live a healthy and secure life from long-term sicknesses. Traditional marriages stop the partners from engaging in to health damaging behaviors like drugs, alcohol and substance abuse.

Heterosexual couples enjoy more satisfaction in their general and sexual relationships. It has also been observed that heterosexual relationships last longer than homosexual relationships (Waite, Linda J., and Maggie Gallagher, 2000). In contrast, Pollack revealed that "few homosexual relationships last longer than two years, with many men reporting hundreds of lifetime partners" (Pollack, 1985).In the Journal of Sex Research, a survey is published which was carried out nationally and included 884 men and 1288 women discovered that almost 77% of men and 88% of women married to opposite sex were faithful to their partners and remained consistent with the marriage vow (Wiederman, 1997).

On the other hand, Saghir & Robins concluded that the male homosexual relationships end up in approximately 2 to 3 years.It can be said that a major difference between homosexual and heterosexual marriages is that the heterosexual marriages are more faithful for their partners and avoid having any sexual relationships with others. This statement can be supported by the results of national survey carried out in 1997, which stated that 85% of wives and 75% of husbands never had any sexual affair except their wedded partners.

Moreover, surveys carried out by US department of Justice states that homosexual marriages are more likely to end up in domestic violence and cruelty as compared to the heterosexual marriages. In conclusion, it can be said that homosexual and heterosexual marriages can be enduring if the partners are consistent with their promises and decisions. However, studies provide clear evidence that heterosexual marriages are stronger. Bibliography:Waite, Linda J., and Maggie Gallagher. The Case for Marriage: Why Married People Are Happier, Healthier, and Better Off Financially.

New York: Doubleday, 2000.M. Pollack, "Male Homosexuality," in Aries, Philippe, and Andre Bejin. Western Sexuality: Practice and Precept in Past and Present Times. Family, sexuality and social relations in past times. Oxford: Blackwell, 1985. 40-61.Wiederman, M. W. "Extramarital Sex: Prevalence and Correlates in a National Survey." JOURNAL OF SEX RESEARCH. 34. 2 (1997): 167-174.Baxter, L.A. "Gender differences in the heterosexual relationship rules embedded in break-up accounts." Journal of Social and Personal Relationship, (1986): 3, 289-306.Tripp, C. A.

Homosexualitet. Stockholm: Bokforlaget Prisma i samarbete med Riksforbundet for sexuell upplysning (RFSU), 1981. (Translation)Saghir, Marcel T., and Eli Robins. Male and Female Homosexuality; A Comprehensive Investigation. Baltimore: Williams & Wilkins, 1973. Tjaden, Patricia Godeke, and Nancy Thoennes. Extent, Nature, and Consequences of Intimate Partner Violence. Washington, DC: U.S. Dept. of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, National Institute of Justice, 2000. Patrick Fagan, et. al., "The Positive Effects of Marriage: The Effects of Marriage on Welfare," The Heritage Foundation, www.heritage.org/research/features/marriage/welfare.cfm.