Cultural Differences in Marriage

Marriage in Different Cultures

Marriage is an age-old tradition that represents the union of two individuals to form a family unit. Cultural differences are a major consideration of how marriages are performed, and define he essence of how a culture views intimate relationships. In some countries, marriages are prearranged to strengthen bonds between families, combine land control, or advance political agendas. In other countries marriage is a voluntary act that symbolizes the love shared by two individuals, or the desire to start a family. Today in America and other countries marriage has taken a modern turn in beliefs, practices, and purpose. Arranged marriage is less favorable, while intergenerational marriages have become normal practice.

Arranged Marriage in Hindu Culture

According to Chawla (2007) “Research on arranged marriage in the humanities and social sciences has been limited to historical and comparative sociological analyses” (p. 1). In India where Hinduism is the primary religion, arranged marriages are generally arranged based on specific criteria. There is a considerable amount of data regarding arranged marriage in India related to how marriage generates and reflects ideals of social order (Harman, 1997). This data shows comparisons to familial caste and subcaste boundaries, family dynamics, and the specific roles of husband and wife (Harman, 1997). Also reflected is the religious aspect of marriage where unmarried deities are and exception, and that single status dictates the powers of the particular deity (Harman, 1997). Most common in arranged marriage is the concern of similar social standings that include the class of both families, religion, and educational levels of the couple to be married (Chawla, 2007). To ensure proper genealogical diversity, families employed the services of sambhalas (match makers) to track the genealogical history of each family. Arranged marriages would not be permitted if the bride and groom shared familial relation of five to seven generations (Sur, 1973 as cited in Chawla, 2007). Even with current modernization, arranged marriages are still common practice, but research has displayed a growing disapproval of this practice.

Marriage in Nineteenth-Century Britain

Intergenerational marriages in nineteenth-century British culture was considered at he time to represent a creepy threat of incest invoked by a young woman marrying a man old enough to be her father (Carens, 2010). Esther Godfrey’s book titled The january-May Marriage in the Nineteenth-Century British Culture draws attention to the various methods in which relationships between young women and older men were viewed in Victorian times (Carens, 2010). Godfrey uses literature and artwork to disclose the concept of how some young women took advantage of aging males to obtain wealth, status, or the attraction of younger men (Godfrey, 2009 as cited in Carens, 2010). Another aspect of marriage in Victorian Britain is covered by Marcus (2007) who theorized that people of the Victorian era “savored various relationships between women as being central to femininity and supporting married life” (p. 1). Diversity in relationships was a fundamental aspect of Victorian England, and issues like lesbianism were acceptable in more respectable societies (Parker, 2007).

Conclusion

In regard to marriage and culture, there are many aspects that require evaluation. In many westernized, or modernized cultures marriage between two people is a symbol of the love and commitment that each person has toward the other. In some cultures, love has less value in marriage because families arrange marriages based on specific criteria of the culture. In Victorian times, marriage between an older man and a much younger woman was in some cased reviled, but acts like lesbianism were accepted in in higher respected society structure.

References

Carens, T. L. (2010). The january-may marriage in nineteenth-century british culture. Victorian Studies, 52(2), 314-316,348. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/366780844?accountid=35812

Chawla, D. (2007). I will speak out: Narratives of resistance in contemporary indian women's discourses in hindu arranged marriages. Women and Language, 30(1), 5-19. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/198829230?accountid=35812

Harman, W. (1997). From the margins of hindu marriage: Essays on gender, religion, and culture. The Journal of Asian Studies, 56(3), 816-818. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/230407217?accountid=35812

Parker, S. A. (2007). Between women: Friendship, desire, and marriage in victorian england. Choice, 45(1), 184-184. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/225743964?accountid=35812