Sociological Views on Marriage and Family.
According to sociologists, marriage is the bonding of two individuals in a society based on love and sexual attraction. I have witnessed my parent’s marriage which has helped me grasp some sociological concepts in class. In a marriage, each spouse has a role to play to create a fully functional bond. Sociologists further said that marriage is a socially generated function hence the cultural norms and what people expect from the marriage choose who should marry and how a marriage should be conducted.
Marriage is also backed up by the law and is a social engagement between spouses which is propelled by loyalty. During my parents’ wedding, I witnessed a marriage certificate being issued by the Commissioner of Oaths. This shows the legality in the bond hence the spouse is cleared to the general public as engaged. Marriage is assumed to be prestigious and a source of power to society. I also accept this since after my parents got officially married, they gained the title of Mr. and Mrs. which is a sign of respect in the society unlike the use of plain official names.
A marriage is considered to be officially sealed by a wedding. A wedding can be traditional, religious, or lawful. I like the religious wedding. This is not because religious marriages tend to be long and more enjoyable, but it is composed and marriage is treated as a luxurious activity, unlike the lawful marriage where seriousness is applied as if it’s a business meeting. Just imagine getting married but serious contracts are signed, turning marriage into a deal. I witnessed my parents do both the religious and lawful wedding that created the engagement bond. I learnt that a wedding is a sign of a covenant taken between two people and the covenant should not be broken.
At the wedding, people brought gifts for the spouse while celebrating the engagement. It was later followed by the exchange of rings and vows. According to symbolic interactionists, both the bride and bridegroom have a different view of the ring. I could also see this when my parents bargained over getting a ring. My mother specifically wanted a diamond ring while my father wanted any type of ring that was of a lower price. Even though men are known for their cunning nature, I think my father proved a point we learnt in class. Symbolic interactionists pointed that when getting a wedding ring, someone may choose a ring considering the wedding as a sign of never-ending love and a direct bond between hearts while the other one sees it just as a financial expenditure with no strong meaning. In this case, I think my mother chose the ring so that when she looks at it, she can remember the covenant she got in while my father saw it as just an item required in the wedding since real covenants are created in the heart but not through the material things.
Marriage is the foundation of a family. It is based on romantic relationships and the creation of moments. A strong marriage yields a united family. In the United States and the Western countries at large, marriages are considered social hence a married couple is expected to have children after the engagement. I have witnessed this in my family, my parents have four children, I being the eldest. Sociologically, the wife is always responsible for taking care of the family and the catering stuff while the husband is expected to provide food for the family and handle bills. In line with this, my father being a civil servant ensures that the family is financially safe while my mother takes care of the foodstuffs and general cleanliness although we are sometimes forced into the kitchen behind the breadwinner’s back.