Marriage is one of the longest lasting social institutions. In the 21st century, however, some have begun to question its stability as an institution and argue that marriage is slowly becoming deinstitutionalized. In the following text, I will touch on theories such as rational choice and feminist to demonstrate that marriage is still a powerful social institution. Additionally, I will establish how practices previously viewed as deinstitutionalizing marriage, such as divorce and cohabitation, are, in fact, reinforcing its strength. To conclude, I will discuss why I believe marriage should remain institutionalized.
David Buss and David Schmitt write in their article “Sexual Strategies Theory: An Evolutionary Perspective on Human Mating”, nearly …show more content…
Dating, as discussed by Asia Eaton and Suzanna Rose, is a prime indicator of gender equality, or rather, inequality. While there has been an increase of women in the workforce, and even becoming the primary breadwinner, there is still a very real expectation of gender roles in dating and marriage. Men were, and usually still are, expected to plan and pay for dates, and are the ones who are supposed to propose marriage (Eaton & Rose, 2011, p. 845). Even within the last decade, gender inequality is still prevalent in dating and marriage, demonstrating that the traditional institution is remaining as such. Eaton and Rose discuss how women still face restrictions under the guise of being protected through “paternalistic chivalry,” which the authors state is composed entirely of gender-typed beliefs (2011, …show more content…
In fact, they are evidence of the contrary. Marriage is an institution in that everybody, children included, recognize what it means to be married: monogamy, two people living together, pooled resources, etc. Divorce only enforces this formal institution, according to Lauer and Yodanis, because it in itself is a formal process that has its own pre-set rules and assumptions (2010). Cohabitation is described in their article as an alternative to marriage that is an institution as well- one that follows the same assumptions as marriage and is legally recognized in many places as just as legitimate and binding as
David Buss and David Schmitt write in their article “Sexual Strategies Theory: An Evolutionary Perspective on Human Mating”, nearly …show more content…
Dating, as discussed by Asia Eaton and Suzanna Rose, is a prime indicator of gender equality, or rather, inequality. While there has been an increase of women in the workforce, and even becoming the primary breadwinner, there is still a very real expectation of gender roles in dating and marriage. Men were, and usually still are, expected to plan and pay for dates, and are the ones who are supposed to propose marriage (Eaton & Rose, 2011, p. 845). Even within the last decade, gender inequality is still prevalent in dating and marriage, demonstrating that the traditional institution is remaining as such. Eaton and Rose discuss how women still face restrictions under the guise of being protected through “paternalistic chivalry,” which the authors state is composed entirely of gender-typed beliefs (2011, …show more content…
In fact, they are evidence of the contrary. Marriage is an institution in that everybody, children included, recognize what it means to be married: monogamy, two people living together, pooled resources, etc. Divorce only enforces this formal institution, according to Lauer and Yodanis, because it in itself is a formal process that has its own pre-set rules and assumptions (2010). Cohabitation is described in their article as an alternative to marriage that is an institution as well- one that follows the same assumptions as marriage and is legally recognized in many places as just as legitimate and binding as