unit 3 social institutions marriage / family. focus questions why does marriage in canada continue...
TRANSCRIPT
Unit 3 Social Institutions
Marriage / Family
Focus Questions
Why does marriage in Canada continue to be a popular institution?
Why do most people in mainstream Canadian culture base their decision to marry on romantic love?
Why is it hard to define the ‘typical’ Canadian wedding?
Basic Statistics
Approximately 40% of marriage ends in divorce
Remarriage rate is approximately 35%
Marriage in Canada is based on free-choice love matches the job of finding a mate is ours, not a 3rd party’s We do this though the dating process
The Kiss
The Dating Process Purpose
1. To socialize into the pattern of being part of a partnership
2. for recreation
3. to seek that true love
Dating New Types
In the past girls and boys met in school. They went ‘steady’, graduated high school / university and got married
Today: On-line dating Speed dating Singles events (museums) Traditional – set up by a
friend Workplace relationships Bars and clubs …
Romantic Love
Based on:
1. Physical attraction
2. Shared values
3. Compatible personalities
Sternberg’s love Theory Types of love based on
combinations of the 3 components listed below
Passion
Commitment Intimacy
Sternberg’s love Theory continuedLove Type Passion Intimacy Commitment
Non-love - - -Liking - + -Infatuation + - -Empty love - - -Romantic love + + -Companionate love - + +Fatuous love + - +Consummate love + + +
Critiques of Free Choice Marriage Love can be blind (we fall in love with people for not
who they are but who we want them to be)
Romantic love crumbles when passion declines, which it will over time (hate to break it to you!)
Marriage is too big a decision to make by one ‘self. Objective 3rd party opinions should be considered
Dating and Attraction
***Opposites do not attract!
People date those that are similar in terms of the following:
physical attractiveness Academic achievement Personality
Marriage in Canada
A changing institution
Marriage – A Cultural UniversalMonogamy
♀ ↔ ♂ ♀ ↔ ♀ ♂ ↔ ♂
Polygamy related to issues of property rights, access to resources and the
sharing of daily work
Polygyny ♂ → ♀+ ♀ + ♀ (one husband, multiple wives) Head wife Wives form a sisterhood Benefits for the wives - companionship, shared domestic responsibilities Beneficial in times of war – men are limited
Polyandry ♀ → ♂ + ♂ + ♂ (one wife, multiple husbands)
Monogamous Marriage Customs: The norm
Mixtec (southern Mexico) Marriage based on an
economic arrangement
Romance plays little to no
role in partner selection
Belief that any house without both ♀ ↔ ♂ is doomed to fail
Remarriage happens quickly with the death of a spouse
India 95% Endogamy, (arranged
marriages) parents choose
Belief - Love is a peaceful emotion based on a long-term commitment and devotion to family. It is created under the right
conditions (marry within your caste)
Children are socialized to adhere to parent authority in accepting their parent’s choice for marriage. Children socialized to believe
that a choice of spouse is too big a decision for a young inexperienced person to make.
Polygyny in Africa (Nigeria) Each mother and her children make up a sub-unit in the family
All wives co-operate in the economic and childcare activities of the family
Enjoyed by both the husband and wives. Husband – fun, wives – companionship
Senior Wife confidant to other co-wives intermediary between co-wives and husband chooses co-wives to ensure they all get along
Decreasing because girls are going to school and becoming more empowered (many are choosing not to marry)
Fraternal Polyandry in Tibet Many brothers take one wife –
Eldest brother has most authority
Sexual and work responsibilities are shared by all brothers
Children are treated equally. All the brothers are viewed as the father
Based on economics – prevents a division of family wealth
Limits population growth – harsh climate
Men are often traveling, therefore rarely home at the same time
Problems: distribution of power within the household, sexual favoritism