Marriage

Lore & Background

Anthropologists have proposed several competing definitions of marriage. Edmund Leach criticized Gough's definition and suggested marriage be viewed in terms of the different types of rights it serves to establish, offering a list of ten rights including sexual monopoly and rights with respect to children. Monogamy is a form of marriage in which an individual has only one spouse during their lifetime or at any one time. Polygamy includes more than two spouses, with polygyny (one man, multiple wives) and polyandry (one woman, multiple husbands) as subtypes.

Reader's Guide

Marriage is a nearly universal cultural institution, yet its definition and practices vary widely across cultures, religions, and historical periods. The source article highlights ongoing debates regarding the legal status of married women, leniency towards violence within marriage, customs such as dowry and bride price, marriageable age, and criminalization of premarital and extramarital sex. Around the world, there has been a general trend towards ensuring equal rights for women in marriages with men, and greater tolerance towards interethnic, interracial, interfaith, interdenominational, interclass, intercommunity, transnational, and same-sex couples. Anthropological definitions have evolved from focusing on heterosexual reproduction to encompassing diverse forms, including ghost marriage among the Nuer and polyandry among the Nayar. The article notes that no single definition applies to all cultures, and that marriage can be viewed as a collection of rights that vary across societies. The institution remains significant as a legal contract recognized by states, organizations, religious authorities, tribal groups, local communities, or peers, establishing rights and obligations between spouses, their children, and in-laws.

Did You Know?

• Anthropologist Jack Goody's comparative study found a strong correlation between intensive plough agriculture, dowry and monogamy in a broad swath of Eurasian societies.
• In some cultures, marriage is recommended or considered compulsory before pursuing sexual activity, and sexual intercourse with others aside from one's spouse may be considered immoral or even illegal.
• Serial monogamy, resulting from divorce and remarriage, creates a new kind of relative, the 'ex-', such as an 'ex-wife' who may remain tied to an 'ex-husband' through alimony or child custody.