Marriage Flashcards
Definition of marriage
Marriage is the socially and legally acceptable union between two persons, without distinction as to their sex, with the exclusion of all others.
Marriage is made official by either religious or civil ceremonies, and the union is legally binding.
Polygyny
A form of marriage that involves a man having
two or more wives at the same time
• These marriages are often patriarchal, with the male making decisions and supervising all of the family’s finances. The more wives a man has, the wealthier he is considered within some societies.
• Polygyny is practised in some:
Islamic countries: the Quran states marry of the women, who seem good to you, two or three or four
African communities
- Mormon communities
Polyandry
A form of marriage that involves a woman having two or more husbands at the same time
• This practice is rare but it exists in some poor agricultural societies, where more than one man is needed to support the family financially
• Polyandry is practised in some:
- Tibetan communities: fraternal polyandry is the most common form. This involves two or more brothers marrying one woman. It occurs when families want to prevent land being subdivided among all their sons
- Marquesas communities: this occurs as there are more men than women on the islands
Customs during marriage ceremonies
Marriage ceremonies have a rich history of varied cultural traditions around the world. For example:
• at the end of some Jewish wedding ceremonies, a glass is broken under the groom’s foot to symbolise the destruction of the ancient Jewish temple in Jerusalem, to remind the couple that a marriage can break
• during some Hindu wedding ceremonies, the bride and groom are led around a ceremonial fire in seven steps. A wedding vow and prayer is said at each step. Participants pray for food, wealth, strength, children, good luck, seasons and friendship.
consanguinity:
blood relationships, e.g. a woman cannot marry her child
affinity:
a relationship by marriage, e.g. a man cannot marry his child’s spouse.
Monogamy
Monogamy is a form of marriage that allows a person to have one husband or wife.
• It is the most common form of marriage in western society and Christian communities.
• In monogamous relationships it is a criminal offence to enter into a second marriage while still legally married. The act of marrying another person while legally married to another is known as bigamy.
• In many societies serial monogamy is common. This involves individuals marrying and divorcing different people many times.
Polgamy
Polygamy is a form of marriage that involves having more than one partner at the same time.
People who participate in this are known as polygamists.
Legal requirements for marriage in ireland
Legal requirements for marriage in Ireland
• Over 18: both partners must be over 18 yeors of age.
• Mental capacity: both partners must hove the mental capacity to understand the noture of marriage. This may not be present if either party is intoxicated, mentally impaired due to drugs or mentally ill.
Notification: three months notification of the marriage must be given to:
a registrar for a civil merriage ceremony
a registrar and the local priest/pastor/vicar of a church for
a religious marnage ceremonv.
Registered venue: marriages must take place in a registered venue, e.q.:
civil ceremonies in a registry office or any other venue that is approved by a registrar, e.g. a hotel
- religious ceremonies in a church.
Free to marry: both partners must be free to marry, i.e. single, widowed or divorced
Voluntary basis: both partners must enter marnage on a voluntary basis. They cannot be forced to marry ogainst their
Wedding registration: after the ceremony the couple and two witnesses must sign a morrioge registration form to
register the marriage.
Not closely related: partners must not be closely related by blood (consanguinity) or marriage (affinity).
Rights and responsibilities within a marriage in Ireland
To cohabit together and keep each other company.
• To have sexual relations with each other during the marriage.
• To show commitment to the marriage and remain faithful and loyal in a monogamous relationship.
• To provide financial support for dependent spouses and children as set out in the Family Law (Maintenance of Spouses and Children) Act 1976.
• To share joint guardianship of any children born within the marriage, and to meet their children’s physical, moral, emotional, intellectual and social needs.
Children may be taken into care if parents do not fulfil this right.
• To inherit from each other under the Succession Act 1965, e.g. if a spouse dies and there is no will and no children the surviving spouse is entitled to all of the estate.
Marriage prep- home
Home life provides children with their first experience of marriage. Parents are the role models that children base their future relationships on.
• If children are raised in a household where there is a stable, loving relationship between parents this will provide a positive image of what forms a happy marriage. Such children may form similar relationships in their own lives.
• If children are raised in a household where there is a tension-filled relationship between parents, this is more likely to develop a negative image of married life. Such children may have difficulty in forming loving, lasting relationships.
The skills and qualities needed to form and maintain healthy marital relationships are also learned within the family, e.g. communication, trust, compromise, respect and faithfulness.
Marriage prep- school
Various subjects studied at school provide marriage preparation, including:
• Social Personal and Health Education (SPHE), as it examines relationship-building skills
• Home Economics, as it explores the roles and responsibilities of married spouses and legal requirements for marriage
• Religious Education (RE), as it examines different religions’ views on marriage.
Pre-marriage courses
Pre-marriage courses offer couples the opportunity to reflect on their hopes and expectations of each other as partners in a marriage. These courses are provided by:
• denominational groups, e.g. Accord Catholic Marriage Care Service
• non-denominational groups, e.g. Relationships Ireland.
Topics covered at pre-marriage courses include:
• family planning
• communication
• parenthood
• role expectations
• finance
• potential problems, e.q. alcoholism.
Denominational groups are religious groups.
• parenthood
role expectations
• finance
• potential problems, e.g. alcoholism.
Advantages of pre marriage courses
Pre-marriage courses allow couples to discuss what marriage means to them and their expectations of married life, e.g. does one partner believe that it is the other’s responsibility to work at home and mind their children?
Pre-marriage courses allow couples to discuss each other’s positive personal qualities, e.g. honesty and generosity. Negative qualities that can have an unsettling effect on a marriage, e.q. jealousy and anger, are also examined to prevent future arquments.
Pre-marriage courses help couples to strengthen their listening and communication skills, which will allow partners to feel heard and understood within married life, reducing the likelihood of conflict.
Pre-marriage courses allow couples to discuss specific issues that may be worrying them, e.g. alcohol problems, financial issues or conception difficulties. The marriage preparation counselor helps find ways to resolve these issues, and provides couples with practical advice to resolve future issues that may arise.
