Class 12 English Guide Marriage as a Social Institution (By- Stephen L.Nock) Summary Exercise Question Answer With Solution

 

Class 12 English Guide

   2.Marriage as a Social Institution (By- Stephen L.Nock) 

Summary

                  In 'Marriage as a Social Institution' by Stephen L. Nock essay, the author examines the national marriage debate by reviewing the social and demographic trends that have changed the role of marriage and the family. He views that marriage and parenthood are private matters, relevant only to the individuals directly involved. He points out the various programs that have strengthened marital relationships, lowered divorce rates, reduced out-of-wedlock births, and encouraged responsible fatherhood. 

               Marriage as a social institution is a politically and socially contentious topic in the essay, and it is examined carefully as a major social structure that impacts males. Writer asserts that the position of spouse has a special significance in men's life. The institution of traditional marriage helps men develop their manhood as they get older. In a marriage, a guy grows, maintains, and shows his masculine identity. 

Marriage is the union of two people who are legally, morally, and socially linked by various personal and societal connections. Husbands as the household's leader, fidelity/monogamy, and parenting are all characteristics of a normal marriage. Couples react to each other, culture, society, and the rules and values that define them as a unit since they are life partners. Married males, in particular, had greater physical and mental health than married women. 

In terms of fundamental aspects of accomplishment, involvement in public social life, well-being, comfort, luxury, and swagger, marriage transforms men.  It's a framework modeled after other institutions like the family, education, economics, law, and politics, among others. 

                                                     

           How is Marriage defined as a Social Institution in Essay?

                          

Marriage is an institution. The connection between married couples is governed by rules, and they coexist within flexible parameters to follow the same patterns in different ways. Marriage differs from all other types of partnerships in that it has soft boundaries—allowable limitations on actions. Such an institution separates married couples from all other types of relationships. They become a part of a huge system of well-understood concepts that assist    in organizing and maintaining human existence.

                              Stephen cites French sociologist Emile Durkheim to back up his point (1858-1917). Emile believes that marriage keeps him from committing suicide by legitimizing his aspirations for well-being, comfort, luxury, and affluence. Marriage improves men's civic virtues and helps them discover their life's purpose. People who are married are less likely to commit suicide than those who are single. Marriage is an effective way to rein in one's irrational longings and wants. Marriage binds a man to the same woman for the rest of his life in order to satisfy his desire for love, which provides moral balance to his life. Dr. It's crucial for male to get married because it gives them direction in life and helps them achieve their goals. 

                             Today, Live- in together type of marriage also called as 'Unmarried cohabitation' is on the rise. But their relationship is not generally and legally recognized since they do not follow normal beliefs, limitations in conduct, no responsibility to each other, no identity and no institutional relationship. Cohabitation without marriage is when two individuals aren't married but yet live together. They don't boldly identify themselves as husband and wife. As a result, it's on the rise because couples may live in harmony and happiness without being bound by the rules of marriage, enjoy great freedom of choice, and are exempt from a broad range of conventions and regulations. A married pair conforms to patterns, conventions, and rules as husband and wife and receives acceptance from everyone. There are laws, religion, and customs protecting their relationship. Social norms and penalties (honor, prestige, etc.) support these networks by making some behaviors eas ier while constraining others. Individuals with high social capital are inserted into networks that spread widely valued knowledge and information. It establishes a connection based on reliability and trust. Social capital has advantages for the individuals who possess it. The couple meets new blood relatives. The institution of marriage is a personal asset, but it is more difficult to maintain since it only exists through relationships with others. But marriage also functions as social capital. There is an obligation to assist and support one other when we are in need. The foundation of the new partnership is built on mutual trust and belief. It establishes relationships amongst people. Because of the weaker borders, marriage varies fundamentally from other kinds of relationships. This is due to the fact that mature people have distinct normative marriage standards.

Answer the following questions.

a. According to the author, what is marriage?

➜ According to the author, Marriage is the union of spouses who are tied by legal, moral, and traditional assumptions and have a variety of close personal relationships and associations.

b. How is marriage an institution?

➜ Marriage is an institution because the relationship between the couples is recognised by law as a means of meeting social, economic, physical, and family requirements, and it is linked to other institutions such as education, the economy, and politics.

c. What are the rules that a marriage has?

➜ Marriage has a large set of well-understood rules that help in the planning and maintenance of the spouses' life.

d. Why does marriage matter to men?

➜ Marriage matters to men because it provides structure to their lives and organizes their goals and ambitions. 

e. What is one of the central problems in modern society?

➜ One of the central problems in modern society is putting various legitimate boundaries around modern individuals' seemingly limitless desires for well-being, comfort, luxury, and prestige.

f. What does social capital consist of?

➜ Social capital consists of a large network of people who are linked by a bond of trustworthiness and trust.

g. What is normative marriage? Explain.

➜ A normative marriage is one that is built on pre-established standards and values. For example, in the United States, the six elements that characterise normative marriage are: marriages are entered willingly by mature, heterosexual adults, husbands as primary earners, sexual faithfulness of partners, and parenthood.

h. Discuss six dimensions that define normative marriage in America.

➜ Marriage exists everywhere, although the concept of marriage varies by location. Every civilization has its own set of marital traditions and values. Whatever it is, it allows two adults of opposite sexes the legal right to live as life partners, satisfying each other's desires. Every marriage, in every area, follows norms and patterns, and the same is true in the United States. In America, the structured marriage known as normative marriage has six dimensions. The first point to mention is that marriage is entirely voluntary. Nobody is putting any pressure on you to marry. It is up to individuals to make their own decisions. Adults are capable of managing their marriages. The marriage must be heterosexual (opposite sexes). The husband will be the primary earner after marriage. They must support their families. Both spouses must be faithful to one another, especially when it comes to sexual behaviour. And it is only after they marry that they become parents to their children.

i. Is marriage a social institution? Discuss.(VVI)

➜ The concept of marriage varies depending on the individual, his philosophy and his way of thinking. Marriage is often defined as a legal partnership between two persons of different sexes who have a personal relationship, residential cohabitation, economic cooperation, the development of a nuclear family, the birth of children, and the satisfaction of sexual needs. It is considered an institution because it adheres to established law; customs, patterns, and norms that are significant to society. People establish such institutions to lawfully satisfy their wants from various people, places, and objects. People of all sexes fulfil their needs and goals through being accepted into society and adhering to social norms and values. Marriage is a worldwide occurrence. It has been practised in every country, society, and tribe since the dawn of human civilisation. It is eternal and will exist till the end of human civilization. Marriage is a dynamic term since the marriage system of the past is not the same as the marriage system of today. Child marriage was once lawful, but it is no longer; widow marriage is now legal, and transgender marriage is also legal. It grants legal privileges such as birth certificates and citizenship to children born outside of a married couple, and it is recognised by religion, government, and other social organizations.