Traditionally, marriage is considered the sacred bond between two individuals that can only be broken by death. Today, however, divorce has replaced death as the most common termination of a marriage.
Despite this, many people are investing in their marriages by purchasing flowers, catering services, event halls, and tuxedo rental shops. So, what is classical marriage in the 21st century? When I was working as one of thousands of free essay writers online, I researched this topic, and I want to share it with you.
1. Commitment
Traditionally, marriage has been viewed as a way to commit to the relationship. Commitment can strengthen the marriage and help maintain stability. It also creates an environment where both partners feel secure and safe. This is important because it allows the marriage to thrive.
Moreover, structural commitment- the belief that one must stay together because of family expectations, the cost of divorce, or the social stigma associated with cohabitation and non-marriage- was found to be related to marriage formation.
Individualization perspectives suggest that such attitudes discourage marriage, whereas gender equality perspectives emphasize the importance of this dimension for marriage formation.
As marriage becomes less mandatory for child-bearing, economic survival or social acceptance, families may be able to reimagine this institution as a model of household production and postromantic solidarity.
2. Love
In societies where the large extended family remains the basic unit, arranged marriages are still common. In such cases, the love factor is usually secondary, and much more thought is given to the socioeconomic benefits that the couple and family will gain from the marriage.
In other cultures, young people choose their own mates. This shift started in the 17th and 18th centuries with Enlightenment thinkers who advocated rational thinking. It was accelerated by the Industrial Revolution and the fact that people gained financial independence, allowing them to afford a wedding and family without parental approval.
Nowadays, love is a key ingredient in many marriages. And it’s not just about having children or procreating; it is also about companionship and mutual attraction. The traditional family can take on a whole new look in the 21st century, with families that include gay couples, single parents, and stepparents.
3. Family
For many people, the idea of marriage is closely associated with the concept of family. Historically, the family has been considered society's most basic and essential building block. It is what binds us together, providing stability and support for individuals and communities.
But today, the sanctity of marriage is being challenged by a number of factors. For example, cohabitation is increasingly common. Couples often break their wedding vows and separate for different reasons. They may also seek a divorce, which is a clear departure from their promise on their special day.
Also, more people have fewer children. This could mean less need for families and, in turn, a lesser need for marriages. This is a big change from the past when a young bride would move in with her husband and immediately become pregnant.
4. Tradition
In the past, marriage had a strong tradition of being a family-allying and heir-centred institution. It was a legal and moral code that embodied traditional, virtuous and predictable assumptions about what is morally right or wrong (Nock, 2005).
In societies where the extended family still dominates, the family often arranges marriages with little thought given to social benefits. In other cultures, love is the driving force, and marriages are usually chosen by young adults who choose their own mates.
The sudden socioeconomic transformation of the last century has substantially affected the tradition of marriage. It is no wonder that alternative statuses such as cohabitation have become more attractive to today's couples. However, the concept of classical marriage has several components that other alternatives do not offer.
5. Community
When families reject the Big Romance of heterosexual normativity and move beyond it toward a practical conception of marriage, they also reshape community life. Such households are a sane alternative to the medicated, disembodied, sexually libertine excesses of hypermodernity. They also offer a model for working together in the business of living, whether that work is agricultural, artisanal, or knowledge-based.
Regardless of demographic and political shifts, traditional marriage has significant value for individuals, their families, and society as a whole. It transforms an incomplete individual into a full human being and provides responsibilities and rights that unmarried people do not enjoy. It also gives the family a sense of belonging and stability. It creates normative expectations and defines what is morally right. It is a cornerstone of civilization.