How Does Marriage Impact on Society?

Marriage is an important social institution. It is a relationship which is socially approved. The relationship is defined and sanctioned by custom and law. The definition of the relationship includes not only guidelines for behaviour relating to sex but also regarding things like the particular way labour is to be divided and other duties and privileges. Children born of marriage are considered the legitimate offspring of marriage coupled. This legitimacy is important in the matter of inheritance and succession. Thus marriage is not only a mean of sexual gratification but also a set of cultural mechanisms to ensure the continuation of the family. It is more or less a universal social institution in India.

Marriage is a sacramental bond between two permissible mates i.e.” a male or a female which is sanction by the court or the committed authority.”

The Marriage system had undergone radical changes especially radical changes especially after independence. Even though the basic beliefs associated with marriage have not crumbled down, many of the practices , customs and forms have changed.

The recent changes are briefly discussed here:

1. Changes in the form of the marriage. The traditional form of marriage like polygyny. Polygyny are not found anywhere and they are legally prohibited in India. Only monogamous marriages are universally practiced.
2. Changes in the aim and purpose of marriage. In traditional societies the primary objective of marriage ‘ dharma ‘ or duty, especially among Hindus. But today the modern objective of marriage is more related to ‘lifelong companionship‘ between husband and wife.
3. Changes in the process of mate selection. The following area of mate selection we can see significant changes today Field of selection has become very wide. It is wide enough to include inter religious and inter caste marriage marriages.
4. Party to selection. Parents do not take an active role in selection of life partners of their children. The practice of young men and women selecting their life partners by themselves is becoming popular today .
5. Criteria of selection. Much importance is given to individual interests, preferring and considering rather than to family consideration. This trend is reflected in the increase in the instance of love marriages
6. Change in the age at marriage. Child marriages are reduced. As per the present marriage act a boy below 21 year and a girl below 18 years cannot marry, pre-puberty marriages have thus placed to post –puberty marriage.
7. Changes in the stability of marriage. Legislative provision for divorce has virtually affected the stability of the marriage. The legislative provision for divorce and widow remarriage has undermined the importance of the age old values related to marriage. The concept of equality of sex has also affected the stability of marriage ties.
8. Changes in the Economic aspect if marriage. The practice of paying dowry is associated with marriage. This practice has grown into a big evil. Bride’s parents are compelled today to pay a huge amount of money as dowry. This practice made marriage as a costly affair. Marriages are often settled only on consideration of dowry. Marriage ceremony is also becoming costly affair since huge amount of money is spend lavishly on decoration, procession , video, music and so on.
9. An Increase in the instances of Divorce and desertion. The instances of divorce are on increase.

Though these new trends are observed today the importance of marriage has not diminished it is still universally practice, though its sanctity is affected a little.

• Starter marriage: Couples want to try out marriage for a pre-determined amount of time, without having kids. They sign legal contracts before the time is up; they decide whether to split or to renew their marriage or move on to a different kind of marriage
• Companionship marriage: This is another marriage that is not about children .Couples marry for friendship to have someone to socialize with and do other things together.
• Parenting marriage: This model of marriage Is all about children. A romantic connection need not be a part of the package. Two people commit to rising kids together and proving a great home for them. They promise to stay together only until all of their children become independent. Of course they can always decide to stay together even after that but the forever assumption is not part of their mental contract from the start.
• Safety Marriage: Some people marry for money. Others marry for health insurance or financial security while they pursue their passions or education or they marry for some instrumental reason. Don’t get all judges! It is not gold – digging or exploitation if each spouse gets something out of the arrangement and each explicitly aggress to it from the outside
• Living alone together marriage: This marriage is for people who say they need their space and mean it. Literally each spouse has a place of his or her own. They are committed to the relationship but want a measure of autonomy.
• Open Marriage: Spouses have other partners but they are not sneaking around. They are practicing ‘ consensual non- monogamy ‘ They want a stable marriage but not a monogamous one. The ‘consensual’ part mean they have agreed to it.
• Covenant Marriage: Whereas all of the other versions of the new ‘ I Do ‘ relax the constraints or assumptions of the prevailing model of marriage . It is only for unions of one man and women. The marriages are harder to get out of legitimate grounds.