Marriage—Concept

MARRIAGE – CONCEPT

Marriage is customary in nearly every known society. The fact that it exists nearly everywhere does not mean marriage takes the same form or is recognized in similar ways. Marriage is a socially legitimate sexual union, begun with a public announcement and undertaken with some idea of permanence; it is assumed with a more or less explicit marriage contract which spells out reciprocal rights and obligations between spouses, and between the spouses and their future children.

Marriage is a socially approved sexual union in that the couple’s sexual relationship is implicitly understood and legitimized. Societies have had a variety of marriage practices. As George Peter Murdock noted, “Sexual relations can occur without economic cooperation, and there can be a division of labour between men and women without sex. But marriage unites the economic and the sexual.”

DEFINITION

1. Marriage has been defined as “a union between man and a woman such that children born to the woman are recognized legitimate offspring of both parents.”

2. According to Malinowski, marriage is a “contract for the production and maintenance of children.”

3. According to Robert H. Lowie, “Marriage is a relatively permanent bond between permissible mates.”

4. According to Westermarck “It is a relation of one or more men with one or more women recognized by the law and custom having some rights and duties in case of having children.”

5. Horton and Hunt says “It is social system us here by two or more than two persons establish a family.” 

6. According to Mr. Muhammad Niaz, “It is a union of husband and wife approved by the following four agencies i.e. Religion, society, morality, law.”

7. Mack & Young says “Marriage is an institution or a set of norms which determines a particular relation between parents and to their children.”