Marriage

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(Traditional Marriage: rewrite. some of this was also fairly bizarre)
(Criticism from radical feminists: Could stand some copy editing)
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Many feminist theorists have argued that marriage is a form of institutionalized [[slavery]] and [[prostitution]]. They argue marriage results in oppression of women.Women's rights activist Victoria Woodhull argued that marriage is a form of legalized prostitution.<ref>David A. J. Richards, Women, Gays, and the Constitution, pp 168, ISBN 9780226712079</ref>  
 
Many feminist theorists have argued that marriage is a form of institutionalized [[slavery]] and [[prostitution]]. They argue marriage results in oppression of women.Women's rights activist Victoria Woodhull argued that marriage is a form of legalized prostitution.<ref>David A. J. Richards, Women, Gays, and the Constitution, pp 168, ISBN 9780226712079</ref>  
 
Australian feminist Dale Spender also viewed marriage as legalized prostitution.<ref>Wendy Shalit, ''A Return to Modesty'', pp 230, ISBN 9780684843162</ref>
 
Australian feminist Dale Spender also viewed marriage as legalized prostitution.<ref>Wendy Shalit, ''A Return to Modesty'', pp 230, ISBN 9780684843162</ref>
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 +
It should be noted that the Radical Feminist view is not necessarily shared among other branches of feminism.  Liberal Feminism, for instance, does criticize the institution of marriage on grounds of loss of autonomy, but only suggests changes, rather than outright removal<ref>[http://www.science.uva.nl/~seop/entries/feminism-liberal/ Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosphy entry]</ref>.  Large portions of the feminist community are also highly concerned with [[Same-sex marriage]], seeing it as an opportunity to expand the equality in marriage itself, and are more interested in improving marriage, rather than, again, tearing it down entirely<ref>[http://www.now.org/issues/lgbi/marr-rep.html NOW article on feminism and SSM]</ref>.
  
 
==See also==
 
==See also==

Revision as of 19:31, 17 December 2008

Marriage is a partnership in which two (or sometimes more) individuals are bonded to each other, until death (or divorce) do them part.

Marriages are recognised and upheld legally by the state, and by doctrines of most religions. In most societies, partners in a legal marriage have recognised responsibilities and entitlements regarding each other, such as the right to be recognised as next of kin, but retain individual rights, identities and accountability.

Contents

Traditional Marriage

Traditionally, marriages in most societies have involved a man and a woman and are expected to be a loving relationship. Historically, marriages have tended to make women subservient to men, as in the wedding vow to "love, honour and obey". Women would be expected to provide and raise children, and to look after the home, while men would be expected to protect and provide for the family.

This conception of marriage with fixed gender roles has attracted fierce criticism from feminists, while many social conservatives still cling to it. One controversial aspect is the sexual obligations ("conjugal rights") ostensibly implied within traditional marriage. Nowadays, most democratic societies recognise that women (and men) are not obliged to have sex with their marriage partner, and hence that marital rape is a genuine and serious crime. However, chauvinists such as Phyllis Schlafly have persisted in claiming that, by entering a marriage, a woman has agreed to consent to sex with her husband at any time.

The Religious Right promote the "one man, one woman" model of marriage as "traditional". Of course, when asked if King Solomon followed "tradition," they scurry away lest they be forced to admit that monogamy was actually a "tradition" of pagan Rome. And the Bible takes a rather dim view of pagan Rome.

Same-sex marriage

Many Religious Right activists are aghast at the idea that two men or two women could apply for the same governmental rights that the civil institution provides. Somehow, they constantly conflate the political and the religious institutions involved.

Polygamy

Polygamy is the practice having more than one wife at a time.

Polyandry

Polyandry is the practice having more than one husband at a time.

The case for marriage

Today many men and women appear to be happily married in equal marriages. Even in cultures where marriage resembles female bondage most women want to be married. In almost all human cultures the overwhelming majority of adults end up in heterosexual mariages. Exceptions are unnatural communities like monasteries and convents. Marriage or long term partnership appears natural for humans. Marriage should be reformed when necessry to protect women against abuse. Men also occasionally need protection. It is unlikely the majority will ever agree to abolish marriage.

Criticism from radical feminists

American feminist Andrea Dworkin believed that marriage is akin to the rape of women by men. She said:[1]

Marriage as an institution developed from rape as a practice. Rape, originally defined as abduction, became marriage by capture. Marriage meant the taking was to extend in time, to be not only use of but possession of, or ownership.

However, in a 1995 interview with author Michael Moorcock, she stated that her position on modern marriage was that it afforded the wife no protection from marital rape, putting her in direct opposition to anti-feminist ideologue, Phyllis Schlafly[2]:

There is a long section in Right-Wing Women on intercourse in marriage. My point was that as long as the law allows statutory exemption for a husband from rape charges, no married woman has legal protection from rape. I also argued, based on a reading of our laws, that marriage mandated intercourse--it was compulsory, part of the marriage contract. Under the circumstances, I said, it was impossible to view sexual intercourse in marriage as the free act of a free woman.

Feminist scholar Marlene Dixon, Professor of Sociology at the University of Chicago, said:[3]

The institution of marriage is the chief vehicle for the perpetuation of the oppression of women; it is through the role of wife that the subjugation of women is maintained. In a very real way the role of wife has been the genesis of women's rebellion throughout history.

Many feminist theorists have argued that marriage is a form of institutionalized slavery and prostitution. They argue marriage results in oppression of women.Women's rights activist Victoria Woodhull argued that marriage is a form of legalized prostitution.[4] Australian feminist Dale Spender also viewed marriage as legalized prostitution.[5]

It should be noted that the Radical Feminist view is not necessarily shared among other branches of feminism. Liberal Feminism, for instance, does criticize the institution of marriage on grounds of loss of autonomy, but only suggests changes, rather than outright removal[6]. Large portions of the feminist community are also highly concerned with Same-sex marriage, seeing it as an opportunity to expand the equality in marriage itself, and are more interested in improving marriage, rather than, again, tearing it down entirely[7].

See also

References

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