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