...“How Structurism Arranges Marriage in India, America, and the Rest of the World” In fact, marriage in the U.S. is just as arranged as marriage in India. Outright if you were to ask someone if marriage in the United States was the same as in India, you would surely get a quick; “No” for a response since largely the United States practices marriages of individual self-choice while India practices arranged marriage. For better or worse, there are many reasons as to why both these countries follow their own marriage styles, but what happens if we were to look beyond what’s in front of us and truly study what ‘unseen’ forces play into a marriage. Would we even dare suggest that marriage in the United States (the freest nation in the world) is just as arranged in India, is it possible to see that arranged marriages in India are perhaps freer than a marriage of self-choice? First we must answer what is a marriage and what forces play into a marriage to truly know. The definition of a marriage in the 1950’s was the union of a non-related male and female backed by their family members with duties and obligations to love and care for one another with the prospect of having children. Nowadays this definition is dated, thanks to the study of Anthropology and the phenomena of homosexuality; a politically correct and culturally considerate definition of marriage would be; “a culturally sanctioned union between two or more people that establishes certain rights and obligations...
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...Marriage Practices Michelle Moses ANT 101 Prof. Larissa Begley November 28, 2013 Marriage Practices Decades ago, what was known as the traditional wedding would be between one man and one woman. Today, traditional and other marriage practices have changed tremendously. When it comes to marriage, all cultures respect and honors its own marriage practice. Many marriage practices may be confusing and misunderstood from an outsider but will always be sacred within his/her tribe. In today’s society, we tend to self-judge another’s culture marriage practices because it is not the traditional marriage that we were brought believing. Even though we have become narrow-minded towards other forms of marriage and have come to believe that any other way wrong, marriage practices will always be performed differently. While some cultures believe in arranged marriages and same sex marriages, other cultures believe in multiple marriage partners which is known as polygamy. In some types of culture, all three of these marriage practices are accepted. Because of this, we should research farther into various cultures and find out what the reason is behind performing the different martial practices that they do because marriage will still continue in several different ways. Even though traditions might be similar to a particular point, the meaning and the marriage practices behind them are very different. When we do not have the power to choose who we want our future mate to be...
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...inevitable reality that cultures differ around the world every place and context has their own unique set of norms, beliefs and practices. These set of norms, beliefs and practices make up the identity of a culture. These make up the whole of their system . A particular culture produces a pattern of actions that a group of people will manifest as they live in this world. Because of the diversity of cultures of people from different places around the world, there exist conflicts due to differences if one culture is imposing its will to the other The Btsisi are considered a horticultural society. Horticultural societies were those that produced food. Unlike the Foraging society who collected wild grains and animals as their first stage of food production, “horticulturalists differ from foragers in their dependence on domesticated plants for most of their food energy. Horticulturalists may still collect wild foods and hunt even as they cultivate, but by and large their sustenance depends on domesticated plants.” (Nowak & Laird, 2010). “Btsisi' traditionally practice village exogamy; in other words, the bride and groom come from different villages” (Nowak & Laird, 2010).They do not practice polygamy or the marrying of kin. “Btsisi' say that upon marriage a newly married couple should first live matrilocally and then patrilocally” (Nowak & Laird, 2010).This is to provide the parents of the bride and groom some self assurance that the marriage to their newly son or...
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...Marriage Practices of the Zulu, Kikuyu and Xhosa Cultures ANT101: Introduction to Cultural Anthropology (GSF1418F) June 1st, 2014 Marriage is a lawful union of a man and a woman. Its definition on all levels is characterized as contracts, a complete type of life change, responsibility and even a personal relationship between a man and a woman. In sum, marriage is acknowledged as a type of move in an individual's life. In this paper we will explore how the marriage practices are exhibited in the cultures of the African Zulu and Xhosa tribes and display how these cultures approach marriage in their culture today. Marriage is divided in understanding the diverse gatherings in unique districts of the world. It is moreover different according to signs of marriage like the Jewish, the Muslim, the Indian, Chinese and even the Xhosa. All these social affairs have different conventions and hold arranged levels concerning this basic practice. A couple of social events even have further divisions that label their rights and social orders penetrated in these administrations (Hetherington 2001). A few people see marriage as practicable, extending from exceptionally youthful ages, to the full grown adults. Customarily it is a transitional experience and viewed as a rite of passage. It is viewed as a method for reproduction, generally which is the greatest embodiment of marriage, and a type of renown and riches to have numerous kids. There are numerous conventional practices which...
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...American culture. Our media and culture is centered around the sexualization of everything, from cars to burgers. In contrast, research shows that one percent of the U.S population is actually celibate, meaning that quite a number of people are abstaining from marriage and other sexual relations. You might think that one percent might not be a very significant percentage, but compared to the 320 million people currently populating the United States, one percent is actually a little more than 3 million people. We decided to look at celibacy and do a cross cultural comparison within different regions around the world. We looked at nine different cultures in different parts of the world. In Southern Europe, we studied the Basques, in South Eastern Europe, we studied the Greeks, in Southern South America, we studied the Onas, in Eastern South America, we studied the Guarani and the Bahia Brazilians, in Southern Africa, we studied the Zulu, in Western Africa, we studied the Akan, in Southern Asia, we studied the Vietnamese, and lastly we briefly looked at the Monguors in Eastern Asia. In some of these cultures, celibacy seems like a very odd and unusual concept to the people, whereas in other cultures, celibacy is a cultural norm, and is practiced among the people. We will be comparing these cultures in order to determine what characteristics they share that lead to the practice of celibacy, what are the differences in their practices, and we will also compare them to cultures that disapprove...
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...Consiiler This: ,'Eeminism" .and "multicultur rtlism" 1. fine each of these terms? aTe two key terms in okin's arlrcle' How does she de- originallypublisheditlheBostonReview,october/November199?'ReprintedinsusanMollerOkin'IsMulticulc' Nussbaum (Princeton: PrinceMatthew Howard' and Martha turalism Bad for women? edited by Joshua cohen, Press, 1999). ton UniversitY Chapter 7 . Gender 287 2. Why, according to Kymticka, do certain minority groups deserve special group rights? 3. \Mhat is the liberal response to Okin's crlttque?'Nhatrejoinder does Olcrn offer to this response? Until the past few decades, minority groups-immigrants as well as indigenous peoples-were typically expected to assimilate into majority cultures. This assimilationist expectation is now often considered oppressive, and many Western countries are seeking to devise new policies that are more responsive to persistent cultural differences. The appropriate policies vary with context: Countries such as England with established churches or state supported religious education find it hard to resist demands to extend state support to minority religious schools; countries such as France...
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...Domestic Organization Domestic Sphere of Culture refers to the home and the universal activities done in peoples’ homes. Obviously from culture to culture there exists a variation of ways where people eat, clean, teach, sleep, and rear children (amid the countless other activities). The Nuclear family is TRADITIONALLY viewed as the father, mother, and child(ren), and is universally accepted as the center of all domestic organization. The relationship between husband and wife is monogamous (i.e. one spouse exclusively for life). The nuclear family provides the functions/needs that cannot be fulfilled anywhere else (Murdock 1973): • Satisfaction of sexual needs that diminishes competition within groups • The guarantee of safety of females during pregnancy and early infant development • Education and enculturation for the next generation • Subsistence is more efficient: gender and family roles dictate who does each task (household work, child-rearing, education, provider, etc.) The traditional nuclear family, however is NOT the ideal model, nor is it always the accepted or rational practice for many cultural groups. Our (U.S.) idea of the traditional nuclear family is derived from the Western European-Christian model. But many alternative forms exist that fulfill the same functions as the traditional model. ALTERNATIVES TO THE NUCLEAR FAMILY AND MONOGAMY: • Single parent (usually mother) and child(ren): also known as matrifocal households—usually...
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...All marriages involve hurdles, but mixed-race marriages face unique challenges. Currently mixed marriages have become more and more widespread and common than they were many decades ago. Mashangwa (2013) indicated that “in the past, many countries such as Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Egypt and even Germany had strict regulations and restrictions, which didn’t allow to get married with a person of another nationality”(p.1). However, presently, times have changed and mixed marriages gradually have increased. According to the Associated Press (2008), it was estimated “65000 interracial marriages in 1970, and then this number has risen to 422,000 in 2005”. Some state, that there are many problems with mixed marriages. They can be cause of misconception in relationship. Sometimes the two spouses are of different religions, nationalities, races, ethnic groups, economic levels, etc. Additionally, these couples may be faced with the disapproval of their parents or negative attitude of their relatives and surrounding society. The more significant differences in background that a couple has, the greater are the challenges that need to be resolved before and during marriage. Sometimes their efforts to reach a consensus can draw the couple closer together. With other couples, their differences could drive them apart. These relationships frequently represent the blending of cultures and practices but may also entail a clash between partner’s values and beliefs. These dynamics become more...
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...beings rely on their socialization skills to survive. These social skills help them to develop interpersonal relationships with each other. One of the main intimate relationships that developed over time is the bond between a man and a woman. This union became sacred in society, and a term “marriage” developed. In their book, The Ties that Bind: Perspectives on Marriage and Cohabitation, Bachrach, Hindin, and Thomson define marriage “as a legally and socially recognized union, ideally lifelong, that entails sexual, economic, social rights and obligations for the partners” (3-16). Since the evolution of marriages, there have also been arranged marriages. This can be seen as the arrangement of a marriage by a third party, usually by the couple’s parents. Arranged marriages may lead to a longer lasting relationship than non-arranged marriages, because the success of the marriage is stronger with a support system, since the parents, community, religion, and cultural background are involved in making and sustaining the marriage bond. Initially one might believe that arranged marriages are a distinct feature of the eastern societies but the western societies also have deep roots and seeds of arranged marriage customs and traditions. Arranged marriages have existed for centuries, and it traditions are still practiced today. Many might see an arranged marriage as forced or unwanted but studies done by Myers, Madathil, and Tingle “showed that differences in marital satisfaction between arranged...
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...There are different cultural practices of people across the world that varies in one way or the other. According to Crapo (2013), a careful study of these cultures reveals that although there are some fundamental differences in the practices, sometimes it is common to find some similarities. In this study, I will focus on comparing the rites of passage between two communities in different countries. Each culture has its own rites of passage and its unique ways of celebrating such events. Some of these practices may have been restructured due to globalization and modernization that is turning the world into a global village. However, many communities still maintain their traditional heritage, preferring to continue with these practices despite the changes brought about by globalization. In this study, I will compare and contrast the cultural rites of passage among the Egyptians and that of the Hindus. I will be confirming even although these two cultures differ in their rites of passage practices, they also share a number of cultural values. Hindus have been able to maintain their cultural practices despite the changes that are taking place in the global world. Although they have embraced modernization, they have been able to maintain most of their cultural practices not only in their home country in India, but also in various other parts of the world where they live (Rinehart, 2004). On the other hand, the Egyptians have maintained their heritage within their country. Most of the...
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...Annotated bibliography "AFRICAN MARRIAGE | Marriage | Pro- Life | Family | Culture." AFRICAN MARRIAGE. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Nov. 2013. <http://www.africanholocaust.net/news_ah/africanmarriageritual.html>. This article examines carefully what marriage is and why it is the most important ceremony in African culture. African weddings are a spiritual and social family affair and it involves the combining of two lives, two families and two communities. It illustrates different types of marriages that exist in the African societies. | Agbogun, James. "Nigeria, People and Culture: Housa Marriage." Nigeria, People and Culture: Housa Marriage. N.p., 4 Feb. 2012. Web. 18 Nov. 2013. <http://www.the-nigeria.com/2012/02/housa-marriage.html>. This article describes the Hausa tribe marriage in Nigeria. The Hausas live in northern Nigeria. They are also found in Ghana, Togo, and Benin. The Hausas generally attach great importance to premarital chastity. A Hausa husband who discovers that the girl he has married is not a virgin will proclaim her shame to the entire town by breaking a pot outside his house. Among most Fulani, and other sub tribes of the Hausa, custom forbids sexual intercourse between young people who are betrothed. Egbosiuba, Michael. "Yoruba Traditional Marriage." All Things Nigeria. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Nov. 2013. <http://www.allthingsnigeria.com/2012/yoruba-traditional-marriage>. The article describes the Yoruba marriage in Nigeria. Yoruba tribe is one of...
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...Misunderstood Society The Nayar of India is made up of numerous castes of a society still based off of many old traditions. This specific society has drawn much attention and controversy over issues of marriage and kinship. However there are other intriguing aspects of their culture such as descendant lineage, religious beliefs, and methods of healing. Most recently studied aspects of social and economic organization further fascinates anthropologists to attempt to answer “who are the Nayar?” There are many different ways in which a society can structure itself in order to ensure its’ survival. In past times, the Nayar would be described as being foragers, that is, people who hunt animals and gather plant life for subsidence. As time went on, populations grew which resulted in a change in social structure. With a need for increased food and resources, many foragers turned into horticulturists. Permanent settlements were established and plants were intentionally grown through the use of agricultural activities. Like many other societies, the Nayar followed a path similar to this which led to the formation of a state. As defined, “a state is a polity with a centralized government and the power to collect taxes, draft men for labor and work, and make and enforce laws for communities within its territorial borders” (Carneiro, 1970). But that doesn’t completely explain why the Nayar are considered a state. To do this, we can look at specific traits that can be seen only in state societies...
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...by persons who are unmarried. Historically considered taboo in many cultures and considered a sin in numerous religions, it has become more commonly accepted by large portions of populaces indeveloped countries within the last few decades. A 2014 Pew study on global morality found that premarital sex was considered particularly unacceptable in "predominantly Muslim nations" such as Indonesia, Jordan, Pakistan and Egypt, each having over 90% disapproval, whilst many people within Western European nations were the most accepting, withSpain, Germany and France having less than 10% disapproval.[1] Contents [hide] * 1 Definition * 2 Prevalence * 3 Gender differences * 4 Ethnicity differences * 5 Safe sex practices * 6 Religious views * 7 Cultural views * 7.1 Britain * 7.2 United States * 8 See also * 9 References ------------------------------------------------- Definition[edit] Until the 1950s,[2] the term "pre-marital sex" referred to sexual relations between two people prior to marrying each other.[3]During that period, Western societies expected that men and women marry by the age of 21 or 22; as such, there were no considerations that one who had sex would not marry. The term was used instead of fornication, due to the negative connotations of the latter.[2] The meaning has since shifted, referring to all sexual relations a person has prior to marriage; this removes emphasis on who the relations are with.[3] The definition...
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...Influence of culture on relationships There are differences between Western and none-western relationships in formation, marriage and divorce. In Western societies, individuals are permitted to form their own relationships with little family interference and on the basis of romantic attraction. Men and women also expect to have numerous relationships before they consider marriage with just one person and often may choose to live together and never get married. Due to globalization and the increase in travel, individuals in Western cultures can interact with a larger pool of potential partners. Moghaddam suggests, in non-western and collectivist culture, males are chosen for the females who are often chaperoned in the presence of that male, otherwise they may be seen as un-marriage worthy. As for marriage; Western societies relationships are usually monogamous, a relationship with just one person, with the average marriage age being 27 and gradually rising. Couples are expected to be together for a length of time before deciding to marry. Hsu claims Individualist cultures value freedom and individuality so that a person can still live their own life once married. This explains why the divorce rate is far higher in Western societies, happiness is valued and more forgiveness is given to those who divorce. An anomaly of this is the Catholic religion, predominant in Ireland and South America, where divorce is religiously seen as shameful. In comparison around 1/2 of the world experiences...
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...Mormon’s Marriage I’ve come to encounter the challenge of studying in depth one of the most intriguing and quite disciplinary societies of the world. After consecutive days of research, I allowed myself to focus on their marital costumes and how such practices can affect their manners and personalities as a whole. With habits such as polygamy and celestial marriages, the Mormon community has established such a distinctive way of living that has allowed them to emerge from other religions. Their seclusion from other cultures as well as their extreme devotion to their faith has made Mormonism come out as a job full of requirements rather than just simple spiritual theology. In the following composition, I aim to inform everything about their nuptial believes, ceremonies, and demands. With that said, I will back up my claim of why I believe the Mormon society is exceedingly strict due to their pious way of living, their expectation to raise conservative individuals, and their closure to other communities. Mormon´s earnest wish to fulfill religious obligations is an essential part of the society. Take polygamy as an example. When the doctrine was first explained back in the 1840´s by Joseph Smith, majority of the members felt repulsed by the proposal. People where then motivated by verses from the bible stated for them to follow their patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob which were told to have more than one wife. As time went by and a better explanation was given, Latter -day...
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