How Sociologists Define Marriage

Sociologists define marriage as a socially supported union involving two or more individuals in what is regarded as a stable, enduring arrangement typically based at least in part on a sexual bond of some kind. Key Takeaways: Marriage Marriage is considered by sociologists to be a cultural universal; that is, it exists in some form in all societies.Marriage serves important social functions, and social norms often determine the role each spouse takes in a marriage.Because marriage is a social construct, cultural norms and expectations determine what a marriage is and who can marry. Overview Depending on the society, marriage may require religious and/or civil sanction, although some couples may come to be considered married simply by living together for a period of time (common law marriage). Though marriage ceremonies, rules, and roles may differ from one society to another, marriage is considered a cultural universal, which means that it is present as a social institution in all cultures. Marriage serves several functions. In most societies, it serves to socially identify children by defining kinship ties to a mother, father, and extended relatives. It also serves to regulate sexual behavior, to transfer, preserve, or consolidate property, prestige, and power, and most importantly, it is the basis for the institution of the family. Social Characteristics of Marriage In most societies, a marriage is considered a permanent social and legal contract and relationship between two people that is based on mutual rights and obligations among the spouses. A marriage is often based on a romantic relationship, though this is not always the case. But regardless, it typically signals a sexual relationship between two people. A marriage, however, does not simply exist between the married partners, but rather, is codified as a social institution in legal, economic, social, and spiritual/religious ways. Because a marriage is recognized by law and by religious institutions, and involves economic ties between the spouses,  a dissolution of marriage (annulment or divorce) must, in turn, involve a dissolution of the marriage relationship in all of these realms. Typically, the institution of marriage begins with a period of courtship that culminates in an invitation to marry. This is followed by the marriage ceremony, during which mutual rights and responsibilities may be specifically stated and agreed to. In many places, the state or a religious authority must sanction a marriage in order for it to be considered valid and legal. In many societies, including the Western world and the United States, marriage is widely considered the basis of and foundation for family. This is why a marriage is often greeted socially with immediate expectations that the couple will produce children, and why children that are born outside of marriage are sometimes branded with the stigma of illegitimacy. The Social Functions of Marriage Marriage has several social functions that are important within the societies and cultures where the marriage takes place. Most commonly, marriage dictates the roles that spouses play in each others lives, in the family, and in society at large. Typically these roles involve a division of labor between the spouses, such that each is responsible for different tasks that are necessary within the family. American sociologist Talcott Parsons wrote on this topic and outlined a theory of roles within a marriage and household, wherein wives/mothers play the expressive role of a caregiver who takes care of socialization and emotional needs of others in the family, while the husband/father is responsible for the task role of earning money to support the family. In keeping with this thinking, a marriage often serves the function of dictating the social status of the spouses and the couple, and of creating a hierarchy of power between the couple. Societies in which the husband/father holds the most power in the marriage are known as patriarchies. Conversely, matriarchal societies are those in which wives/mothers hold the most power. Marriage also serves the social function of determining family names and lines of familial descent. In the U.S. and much of the Western world, a common practice is patrilineal descent, meaning the family name follows that of the husband/father. However, many cultures, including some within Europe and many in Central and Latin America, follow matrilineal descent. Today, it is common for newly married couples to create a hyphenated family name that preserves the named lineage of both sides, and for children to bear the surnames of both parents. Different Types of Marriages In the Western world, monogamous marriage between two spouses is the most common form of marriage. Other forms of marriage that occur around the world include polygamy (a marriage of more than two spouses), polyandry (a marriage of a wife with more than one husband), and polygyny (the marriage of a husband with more than one wife). (In common usage, polygamy is often misused to refer to polygyny.) As such, the rules of marriage, the division of labor within a marriage, and what constitutes the roles of husbands, wives, and spouses generally are subject to change and are most often negotiated by the partners within the marriage, rather than firmly dictated by tradition. Expanding the Right to Marry Over time, the institution of marriage has expanded, and more individuals have won the right to marry. Same-sex marriage is increasingly common and in many places, including the United States, has been sanctioned by law and by many religious groups. In the U.S., the 2015 Supreme Court decision Obergefell v. Hodges struck down laws banning same-sex marriage. This change in practice, law, and cultural norms and expectations for what a marriage is and who can participate in it reflects the fact that marriage itself is a social construct. Updated by Nicki Lisa Cole, Ph.D.

Impact Of The North American Free Trade Agreement - 991 Words

A free trade agreement is a treaty between two or more countries to establish a free trade range where commerce in goods and services can be regulated across common borders, and without tariffs. An extensively recognized trade agreement is the European Union. The European Union has been advantageous by providing, safety, international mobility, employment mobility, residential mobility, and tax options. However, free trade agreements are not always beneficial. This paper will illustrate the negative impact of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) in the United States. NAFTA is the first trade agreement that coalesced Mexico, Canada, and the United States. The new law was signed by President Clinton on December 8, 1993, impending into effect on January 1, 1994. NAFTA was implemented by the use of fast track. Fast track allowd Clinton to sign the agreement before congress voted on it. It also guaranteed that the executive branch can write legislation not subject to committ ee markup that would implement the pact and alter wide swaths of existing U.S. law. In terms of the dictionary, Fast Track guarantees the House and the Senate vote on the bill within 90 days, with floor amendments forbidden and a maximum of 20 hours of debate. Since the agreement, NAFTA has eliminated most if the non-tariff and tariff barriers to increase free trade and investment. NAFTA is regulated by various institutions that focus on the Agreement’s rules being implemented andShow MoreRelatedThe Impact Of The North American Free Trade Agreement1501 Words   |  7 PagesThe North American Free Trade Agreement was created in order to help relations between Canada, The United States, and Mexico. While Canada had previous relations with the US with free trade when Mexico became a part of the talks in 1991 thus creating the North American Free Trade Agreement otherwise known as NAFTA. The premises of the agreement are to allow trade without tariffs except on certain products to flow freely between the three countries. While NAFTA include Mexico, United States, and CanadaRead MoreThe North American Free Trade Agreement. One Of The Major1307 Words   |  6 Pages The North American Free Trade Agreement One of the major keys to having two or more parties successfully trade and invest with each other is the ability to make agreements peacefully and come to similar terms. Many times, people would like to trade goods and services, but cannot agree on the terms each other have made. This can obviously cause many problems with trading and is the reason many deals do not go through, which can impact not only the people involved, but many more people very negativelyRead MoreThe North American Free Trade Agreement1118 Words   |  5 PagesThe North American Free Trade Agreement(NAFTA) has tremendously helped Canada and its economic well- being. On the beginning of the year of 1994, an agreement on the basis of trading between Canada, the United States of America, and Mexico was made. This agreement was based on the motive of free trade, such that of paying significantly less in import and export taxes between the three nations. NAFTA has aided North America extensively, that being said he lping Canada’s economy is no exception to it’sRead MoreEvaluating Naft Was It Worth It?1229 Words   |  5 Pagesworth it? In 1994, the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) was enacted between two industrial countries and a yet still developing nation. This was an agreement that was the first of its kind due to the relationship that the countries had and the investment opportunities that it presented. The United States, Canada, and developing Mexico decided to work towards eliminating most tariffs and non-tariff barriers between the three in order to increase the flow of trade in goods and services.Read MoreNAFTA Case Study1586 Words   |  7 PagesS. exports to Mexico. Within 10 years of the execution of the agreement, all U.S.-Mexico levies were to be eliminated except some U.S. farming exports to Mexico to be eliminated inside 15 years. Most U.S.- Canada exchange was at that point duty free. NAFTA likewise tried to take out non-duty exchange barriers and to secure the intellectual property rights on traded items. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY: The North American Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act rolled out a few improvements to the copyrightRead MoreNafta Essay1377 Words   |  6 PagesINTRODUCTION TO NAFTA: The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) came into effect on January 1, 1994 (Free Trade Agreements, 2016). The agreement was marked by President George H.W. Bush on December 17, 1992 as the primary period of his Enterprise for The Americas Initiative (EA) and endorsed by Congress on November 20, 1993. The NAFTA Implementation Act was marked into law by President William J. Clinton on December 8, 1993. NAFTA eliminates tariffs and other trade barriers on goods and servicesRead MoreBasic Equivalent Of The Border1354 Words   |  6 Pagesto smuggling, free trade, and border enforcement. Among the cultural differences, the levels of social society class, and comparison between the Third World and the Superpower countries, both the United States and Mexico share a difficult border relationship. Despite the hindrances of violence, corruption, security and criminal activity, the opportunity to capitalize in money making investments was highly present. With the implementation of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) tradingRead MoreThe North American Free Trade Agreement1711 Words   |  7 PagesThis paper will discuss four components of the North American Free Trade Agreement: Background, events, pros and cons. Upon the research, you will discover four online articles to provide more detail and examples. This research will indicate how it was developed and the reasoning on why it would benefit the nation. Also, it will provide events that occur after the agreement was signed by congress and the recession the countries experience during the early 2000s. There will be a chart locatedRead MoreNorth American Free Trade Agreement981 Words   |  4 Pagesforms of trade in order to benefit themselves and their communities. From bartering in Ancient Egypt, to the international trading the world has today, trading has found its way into various sectors of modern civilization. The idea of free trade dates back to sixteenth century Spain and it was believed by certain economists to be the reason why certain civilizations flourished more than others. Free trade was an idea The U.S., Canada and Mexico struck gold with when they implemented the North AmericanRead MoreEssay On Nafta1182 Words   |  5 PagesKey term As a result of extensive research on various topics, the one area there has been on the rise and is subject to further debate and analysis is the North American free trade agreement. This particular treaty is of interest owing to the current globalization that is fast consuming economies across the world as well as the change in leadership in the three countries involved. As a result, this essay takes into account the current economic state of the world about the increased competition;

Kay Boyle’s Astronomer’s Wife Free Essays

Astronomer’s Wife Plot Summary Kay Boyle’s â€Å"The Astronomer’s Wife† is a brief story about a women’s dissatisfaction with her husband and her life. It Begins with Mrs. Katherine Ames waking up in her villa. We will write a custom essay sample on Kay Boyle’s Astronomer’s Wife or any similar topic only for you Order Now She called for her maidservant to bring her some coffee as she begun to think about her husband, the astronomer. The maidservant then interrupted her thinking by telling her that the plumber had arrived. Mrs. Ames repeated herself, â€Å"I am Mrs. Ames†¦ I am Mrs. Ames† to call for the plumber. She showed the plumber to a room that has flooded. The plumber examines the flooded room and remarked that it was the â€Å"soil line† was responsible for the plugged drain. While the plumber headed outside to look at the pipes, the astronomer yelled at his wife that â€Å"There’s a problem worthy of your mettle! † as he is still on his bed. Mrs. Ames proceeded outside to the plumber and where he noted that the drains are â€Å"big enough for a man to stand upright in them†. Though, Mrs. Ames wasn’t paying any attention because she was still thinking about her husband’s thoughts and the things that he did to make her sad. Meanwhile, Mrs. Ames then looked at the plumber and noticed that he is looking â€Å"up in her face†. She noticed several physical characteristics about the plumber, â€Å"hair as light as gold, lean cheeks, rugged bones, firm and clean flesh. † She began to think about the differences between the plumber and the astronomer, a men who descend and men who go up. Suddenly, everything about the plumber became appealing to her, and she continued to think about the dissatisfaction of her husband. At the end of the story, Mrs. Ames followed the plumber into the drainpipes. Characters Mrs. Ames is the main character of the story. She is married to an astronomer who is a distant and overly interested in abstract things that had caused her to feel dissatisfaction of him. She is the astronomer’s only link in the story, but she means a little to him. So such a long time she hadn’t entirely immersed in life from her husband, she then was appealed by the plumber, who is the contrast of the astronomer. The astronomer is married to Mrs. Ames. In the story, the narrator mentioned about the astronomer that â€Å"he was a man of other things, a dreamer. He spent most of his time examining the heavens and attempting to remain as high above the earth as possible. Even Mrs. Ames stated that he likes being on the roof or mountains for many times. However he never physically appeared in the story and only heard from him once when he yelled to Mrs. Ames. His behavior had made Mrs. Ames to think about him most of the time and dissatisfied of him. Meanwhile, the plumb er is the astronomer’s opposite. While the astronomer preferred to be high up, the plumber descended down into pipes below the ground. In the story, he had been describe physically and also been suggested as â€Å"brutal. † Mrs. Ames was attracted to his physicality as the plumber is the one who paid attention to her, looked her in her eye when he spoke, and treated her politely. At the end of the story, the plumber told Mrs. Ames an experience which in a sense that the plumber wanted to give her back and important element of her life that she had lost. Reader – Response Criticism Based on my own interpretation, the story shows that when a person, Mrs. Ames, feels the loss of love in a relationship and becomes unhappy, the person will look for the affection elsewhere. Then another character, the plumber, shows up and gives the spouse what she has been missing who is able to give her what has not had. This marriage has turned Mrs. Ames to a robot-like, routinely and every day is the same. This relationship would mostly result in unhappiness and unhealthy. It is because Mr. Ames find more interest in his profession than he does in his wife, clearly is the cause of his wife’s dissatisfaction. Every scene in the story is well described in words. All the details and descriptions help enrich the story. The major characters involved are Mrs. Ames and the plumber. The husband is mostly described by the wife, but he is only the minor character as he is not physically involved in the story. Meanwhile, the maidservant girl is another character which only involved in few scenes throughout the story. The story didn’t describe that Mr. and Mrs. Ames are in a relationship trouble, but the expressions, actions, and thoughts described is a clear indication of a marriage conflict. Even neither the plumber nor Mrs. Ames mention anything about them being interested in each other, but mostly described by the narrating that it is more than just a plumbing problem. Mrs. Ames describe her relationship with Mr. Ames is by talking about him. Although Mrs. Ames didn’t show directly of how she feel about her husband in the story, but is the way she speaks of him in front of the plumber. The couples are actually quite young, but the way they are described makes them look like they are in there fifties, where they seem like too old for any changes in their life. Conclusion The literature contains a lot more than we could expect. The story is actually quite simple, yet there is so much detail within it. Though the theme of a relationship gone bad is so common, but each sentence in the story tell us more to say inside than what is on top. The character’s dialogue is always either focuses on what the character is saying, or focuses on what is meant by what the character is saying. It shows that there is an opposition in each of the character’s words. Thus, it enriches the story into an exciting and provoking story to read. How to cite Kay Boyle’s Astronomer’s Wife, Essay examples

Baby Boomers are Jealous Essay Example For Students

Baby Boomers are Jealous Essay Stephen M. 10/30/96Professor ShockleyGeneration Xers have been described as fanatically independent individuals pathologically ambivalent about the future, and brimming with unsatisfied longings for permanence, for love, and for material possessions. (Lauren, p.64) This less-than-flattering description of our generation has since been expanded by the media to the point that myself and my peers are described as a bunch of apathetic slackers unconcerned with family values, godless cynics resentful of the preceding generations. Since Douglas Couplands Book Generation X came out in 1991, many things have been said about the twentysomethings.Labeled by Coupland and the media as Generation X. Although the name has stuck, Couplands book is virtually impossible to find. Why is that? Could it be because Generation X describes us, me, everyone who was born between the years of 1963-1983 as white and privileged and living in a suburb near you (Giles, p4). In addition, Advertising Age referred to Generation Xers as That cynical, purple-haired blob watching TV. (Giles, p2)What makes our generation so special, is that we have proven them all wrong. Generation X consists of those between the ages 13 and 33 years of age. We as a group have become the productive, interested, and hardworking individuals that we are today. We have grown to realize that the futures undiscovered country is awaiting our arrival, and is there for the taking. It isnt at all ironic that during our short lives the world has seen so many changes. Through the work of our generation and the reactions of the Baby Boomers generation, we have helped turn this world into a new age of wisdom; a cut-the-crap, truth seeking generation, both richer and poorer because of it. Do not feel threatened, however, our future, our generations future, and the future of the human race, is in the hands of the most informed generation to date. Growing up in an ever shrinking world. Xers mostly share an impatience with racism, greed, and ignorance (Lauren, p. 70). The common use of the computer opened the ever expanding horizons to the highways of the world throughout cyberspace. Fact be known Gen X is neither white, nor rich, nor do they all live in a suburb near you. 70 percent of Xers are white, while 13 percent are black, 12 percent Hispanic, 4 percent Asian, and 1 percent are Native American (Giles, p4). In addition, according to a recent survey conducted by t he sociology department at the University of Maryland, Generation Xers can now be classified by the term Neat (Carnoy, p.80) Dr. John P. Robinson recently supervised a telephone survey and concluded that 57 percent of 18- to 29-year-olds said that having a neat and clean house was very important to them (Carnoy, p. 80). When compared to the Baby boomers, only 48 percent of the 30- to 49-year-olds felt the same way (Carnoy, p.80)Examples proving that Generation X is not a bunch of slackers are prevalent all through our society today. Swing, Might, Paper, Curio, and myriad other magazines are all published by Xers, for Xers. T.A.G. formally known as The Alternative Group is after representation. For too long our needs (Generation X) have gone ignored in our local, state, and national governments. In truth, we hope to be a grassroots lobbying force for our age group. (TAG, Objectives) Adam Werbach (23) is breathing new life into the Sierra club, Americas oldest, largest, and most midd le aged environmental group. Thousands of Xers are popping up all over the place, taking the reins of society and quietly changing America. Young People are less commited to their jobs now. My father started working for ATT as soon as he graduated from college and he just retired last year, at 55, I dont know anyone my age who is likely to have the same situation. These days, three or four years is the longest anyone stays at one company. People want more out of life than just a job. They want to be doing something they love, and they want to move up fast. Its no longer a sign of weakness to leave a job after a short stint. Now, it shows that youre ambitious. (Schiman, Swing)The Boring Twenties: Grow Up, Crybabies. Youre Americas Luckiest Generation. Headlined the Washington Times (Giles,p2) Unfortunately, but we arent Americas luckiest children. More than two-thirds of todays college and university students receive some sort of financial assistance during their academic career (T.A.G., Aid). It is no wonder then, that when the Congress begun talk of cutting financial aid, many campuses across the country made their voic e heard loud and clear. On top of that, many graduates entering the work force did so during the recession of 1990-1991. Today the average full-time salary for a male between twenty-five and thirty-four is $26,197; the average for a female is $21,510 (Giles, p.4) For Generation Xers to grow up in homes where the divorce rate even hit 50% (Leveridge, p15) the could be considered Americas unluckiest children. The recent resurgence of retired people moving closer to college campuses is astounding. The number of Gen Xers that want interaction with the retirement community is unparalleled (Harris, p. 57). .uee61b2ad80e506b1c9d667c9a92e316b , .uee61b2ad80e506b1c9d667c9a92e316b .postImageUrl , .uee61b2ad80e506b1c9d667c9a92e316b .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .uee61b2ad80e506b1c9d667c9a92e316b , .uee61b2ad80e506b1c9d667c9a92e316b:hover , .uee61b2ad80e506b1c9d667c9a92e316b:visited , .uee61b2ad80e506b1c9d667c9a92e316b:active { border:0!important; } .uee61b2ad80e506b1c9d667c9a92e316b .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .uee61b2ad80e506b1c9d667c9a92e316b { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .uee61b2ad80e506b1c9d667c9a92e316b:active , .uee61b2ad80e506b1c9d667c9a92e316b:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .uee61b2ad80e506b1c9d667c9a92e316b .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .uee61b2ad80e506b1c9d667c9a92e316b .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .uee61b2ad80e506b1c9d667c9a92e316b .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .uee61b2ad80e506b1c9d667c9a92e316b .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .uee61b2ad80e506b1c9d667c9a92e316b:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .uee61b2ad80e506b1c9d667c9a92e316b .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .uee61b2ad80e506b1c9d667c9a92e316b .uee61b2ad80e506b1c9d667c9a92e316b-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .uee61b2ad80e506b1c9d667c9a92e316b:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: My Folk Dance Experience EssayAfter all this is said and done, Generation X has far surpassed proving their worth to the baby-boomers. Could the Baby-boomers nostalgia of the good ol days be the determining factor in the constant barrage of our generation. One day they will figure us out, but by then it will be too late. It is the drive, determination, and inspiration that our generation has, that will allow every single one of us conquer, and never be conquered. It is also this which brings us together, and defines us a generation, Generation X. Works citedAtwan, Robert, ed. Our Times. 4th EditionBoston: Bedford 1995Carnoy, David. Into the Great Divide.Swing: September 1996: 80-81Forrest, Bret. Douglas Coupland: Thoughts and RealitySwing: July/Aug 1996: 75Giles, Jeff. Generalizations X.Our Times. Ed. Robert Atwan. 4th edition Boston: Bedford, 1995Goldman, Debra. Generalizations X.Our Times. Ed. Robert Atwan. 4th edition Boston: Bedford, 1995Harris, Lou. Family Values.Swing: September 1996: 81Lauren, David. Who We Are.Swing: April 1996: 62-72Leveridge, Brett. Men My Mother DatedMight: Nov/Dec1996:16Liu, Eric. Generalizations X.Our Times. Ed. Robert Atwan. 4th edition Boston: Bedford, 1995Schiman, Ben. Work Life.Swing: September 1996: 80T.A.G., Electoral ObjectivesHttp://www.mindspring.com/^tag/electorial_objectives.html: 1-2T.A.G., Securing the Future of Student Financial AidHttp://www.mindspring.com/^tag/electorial_objectives.html: 1