The Social and Economic Aspects of Marriages

Marriage is the second way to form kinship groups. The first is consanguineal relations, which are relations by blood, and the second is affinal relations, which are created by marriage. This means that marriage not only connects the respective spouses but also whole families, adding a social element. It makes marriage a socially recognized relation, and over time, it leads to a widespread social process with offspring. It is a way to organize emotional commitments and economic activity and gain social support.

There are many types of marriages, but the most common are arranged and companionate marriages. Companionate marriages are based on love, while arranged marriages are usually due to a commitment to a larger group rather than personal fulfillment. They prioritize the continuation of a kinship group and make marriage a sort of social obligation. These are especially common in Asia, the Pacific, the Middle East, and Africa. Arranged marriages often result from cultural rules that determine the preferable partner and promote the concept of endogamy, or marriage within a specific social group. Exogamy, or marriage outside a group, is more common throughout the world.

The concept of marriage also brings in the economic aspect. Many cultures use gifts to legalize marriages. There are two main types: bride wealth and dowry. Bride wealth is most common in Africa and in Islamic cultures, where the groom gives gifts or money to the bride’s family. This symbolizes a sort of trade, where the bride and gifts or money are exchanged. Dowry, which is most prominent in India, is the opposite of bride wealth. Although legally banned, this practice is still followed. In this case, the bride’s family gives money or gifts to the groom to ensure their daughter’s financial well-being after the marriage.

In my research, one really interesting point I came across is a potential consequence of marriages in their social aspect. Because marriages become a social process over time with offspring, many cultures and traditions do not recognize couples as married until they have children. This expectation and pressure can have major negative effects on marriage and other social relations.

Overall, the study of marriage is very interesting as it is one of the two ways humans continue to grow socially. Marriage and its social aspects are definitely interconnected, and this connection is something anthropologists continue to study.