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marriage [2014/08/12 20:12] – [Marriage] Ryan Schram (admin)marriage [2021/06/30 23:33] (current) – [References] Ryan Schram (admin)
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 In conventional kinship diagrams, we denote the relationship of marriage with a symbol like an double bar ( = ) or an underbar linking two people, usually a circle and a triangle. It seems to suggest that this relationship of affinity is something that can be approached objectively, as though it exists independently of the people in it. Kinship diagrams are so reassuring. In spite of differences among cultures, the wordless symbols of affinity imply that, with apologies to Gertrude Stein, a marriage is a marriage is a marriage.  In conventional kinship diagrams, we denote the relationship of marriage with a symbol like an double bar ( = ) or an underbar linking two people, usually a circle and a triangle. It seems to suggest that this relationship of affinity is something that can be approached objectively, as though it exists independently of the people in it. Kinship diagrams are so reassuring. In spite of differences among cultures, the wordless symbols of affinity imply that, with apologies to Gertrude Stein, a marriage is a marriage is a marriage. 
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 +## Changes in marriage ##
  
 Some recent reports: [[http://www.pewsocialtrends.org/2011/12/14/barely-half-of-u-s-adults-are-married-a-record-low/|Barely half of all US adults are married]] (Cohn et al. 2011). The average age of the first marriage in the US has been approaching 30 gradually for many years. In the 1960s, an overwhelming majority of 20-somethings were married. [[http://www.pewsocialtrends.org/2010/11/18/the-decline-of-marriage-and-rise-of-new-families/2/#ii-overview|In 2008, only about 26% were]] (Pew Research Center 2010). [[http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/Lookup/4102.0Main+Features30March+Quarter+2012#INT|The same or similar trends are visible in Australian society too]] (Australian Bureau of Statistics 2010, Swallow 2010).  Some recent reports: [[http://www.pewsocialtrends.org/2011/12/14/barely-half-of-u-s-adults-are-married-a-record-low/|Barely half of all US adults are married]] (Cohn et al. 2011). The average age of the first marriage in the US has been approaching 30 gradually for many years. In the 1960s, an overwhelming majority of 20-somethings were married. [[http://www.pewsocialtrends.org/2010/11/18/the-decline-of-marriage-and-rise-of-new-families/2/#ii-overview|In 2008, only about 26% were]] (Pew Research Center 2010). [[http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/Lookup/4102.0Main+Features30March+Quarter+2012#INT|The same or similar trends are visible in Australian society too]] (Australian Bureau of Statistics 2010, Swallow 2010). 
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 ## Marriage as social trend and as cultural construct ## ## Marriage as social trend and as cultural construct ##
  
-Stephanie Coontz, a sociologist, recently wrote [[http://www.cnn.com/2010/OPINION/11/22/coontz.marriage.pew/|an opinion article for CNN]] about marriage trends in the US. She says marriage trends do not mean that marriage is becoming obsolete. Rather the trends show that the meaning of marriage is changing. In the past, when marriage rates were higher, people believed that marriage was a requirement. Being married was part of being an adult. It was an obligation to society, in a sense, to get married and have children. Today, people still say that marriage is an important goal in their lives, but that the reason why marriage is important is because it gives emotional satisfaction. People want to marry a partner and friend. Beyond the measurements of people's behavior, there is also the cultural values that people attach to these behaviors. +Stephanie Coontz, a sociologist, recently wrote [[http://www.cnn.com/2010/OPINION/11/22/coontz.marriage.pew/|an opinion article for CNN]] about marriage trends in the US (2010). She says marriage trends do not mean that marriage is becoming obsolete. Rather the trends show that the meaning of marriage is changing. In the past, when marriage rates were higher, people believed that marriage was a requirement. Being married was part of being an adult. It was an obligation to society, in a sense, to get married and have children. Today, people still say that marriage is an important goal in their lives, but that the reason why marriage is important is because it gives emotional satisfaction. People want to marry a partner and friend. Beyond the measurements of people's behavior, there is also the cultural values that people attach to these behaviors. 
  
 ## The marriage gap ## ## The marriage gap ##
  
-Is the value of marriage purely subjective, then? Actually, no. In her op-ed, Coontz goes on to point out another trend in marriage rates. Wealthy and well-educated people are more likely to marry, and more likely to marry people of a similar background. High school graduates and working class people are less likely to marry at all, even though they also say in surveys that they value marriage as much as others, and for the same reasons. That is, people with less education still participate in the same culture and its values of marriage, but find it hard to establish marriages as adults. Moreover, society rewards people who are married. There is a huge marriage benefit for well-educated married women. On top of their greater socioeconomic standing, many aspects of life are simply easier for well-educated people because they have a spouse (see also deParle 2012). Thus changes in marriage are not simply shifts in attitudes. Structural forces are in play as well. Why does this gap exist? +Is the value of marriage purely subjective, then? Actually, no. In her op-ed, Coontz goes on to point out another trend in marriage rates (2010). Wealthy and well-educated people are more likely to marry, and more likely to marry people of a similar background. High school graduates and working class people are less likely to marry at all, even though they also say in surveys that they value marriage as much as others, and for the same reasons. That is, people with less education still participate in the same culture and its values of marriage, but find it hard to establish marriages as adults. Moreover, society rewards people who are married. There is a huge marriage benefit for well-educated married women. On top of their greater socioeconomic standing, many aspects of life are simply easier for well-educated people because they have a spouse (see also deParle 2012). Thus changes in marriage are not simply shifts in attitudes. Structural forces are in play as well. Why does this gap exist?  
 + 
 +## Marriage as a civil rights issue ## 
 + 
 +{{:2654:14-556_3204.pdf|Obergefell et al. v. Hodges, Director, Ohio Department of Health et al., 576 US __ (2015). Supreme Court of the United States.}} 
 + 
 +See especially the PDF pages 3 in Kennedy's opinion and pages 75-76 in Scalia's dissent.  
  
 ## References ## ## References ##
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 Cohn, D’Vera. 2011. “Barely Half of U.S. Adults Are Married – A Record Low.” Pew Research Center’s Social & Demographic Trends Project. http://www.pewsocialtrends.org/2011/12/14/barely-half-of-u-s-adults-are-married-a-record-low/. Cohn, D’Vera. 2011. “Barely Half of U.S. Adults Are Married – A Record Low.” Pew Research Center’s Social & Demographic Trends Project. http://www.pewsocialtrends.org/2011/12/14/barely-half-of-u-s-adults-are-married-a-record-low/.
 +
 +Coontz, Stephanie. 2010. “Is Marriage Becoming Obsolete?” CNN Opinion. http://www.cnn.com/2010/OPINION/11/22/coontz.marriage.pew/.
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 +Deparle, Jason. 2012. “Two Classes in America, Divided by ‘I Do.’” The New York Times, July 14, sec. U.S. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/15/us/two-classes-in-america-divided-by-i-do.html.
  
 OECD. 2014. OECD Family Database. Paris: OECD. http://www.oecd.org/social/soc/oecdfamilydatabase.htm. OECD. 2014. OECD Family Database. Paris: OECD. http://www.oecd.org/social/soc/oecdfamilydatabase.htm.
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 Swallow, Julian. 2010. “Couples Rejecting Marriage for de Facto.” Australian Geographic. http://www.australiangeographic.com.au/news/2010/09/couples-rejecting-marriage-for-de-facto. Swallow, Julian. 2010. “Couples Rejecting Marriage for de Facto.” Australian Geographic. http://www.australiangeographic.com.au/news/2010/09/couples-rejecting-marriage-for-de-facto.
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 +-----
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 +<WRAP box similar>~~SIMILAR~~</WRAP>
  
marriage.1407899530.txt.gz · Last modified: 2014/08/12 20:12 (external edit)