Introduction to Sociology

MARRIAGE, MATE SELLECTION & TYPES OF MARRIAGE

Marriage:

Marriage is the approved social pattern whereby two to more persons establish a

family. It involves not only the right to conceive and rear children, but also a host of

other obligation and privileges affecting a good many people.

The real meaning of marriage is acceptance of a new status. Marriage is one of the oldest

socially recognized institution and essential for the procreation of children satisfaction of

our sexual urges. In different societies, there are different methods of marriage. Some of

the societies allow a male to marry only a single female whereas in other societies a

husband is allowed to have more than one wife. Similarly some societies will not allow

women to have more than one husband whereas other societies will not mind a woman

having more than one husband. In some cases the parents arrange the marriage whereas

in other the boys and girls arrange their marriage.

So marriage is necessary process. This institution is must and will be continued

throughout the life.

Definition of marriage :

It has been differently defined as under:

1. Jacob and stern: “Marriage is a term for social relationships of husband and wife

or plural mates, also used for the ceremony of uniting marital partners”.

2. Young & Mack:

“Marriage is the institution or set of norms which determines the particular

relation of parents of each other and to their children”.

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Introduction to Sociology

Mate selection:

There are two methods given as:

a) Exogamy:

When a person marries outside one’s group, caste, religion, class or race. It is

attributed as exogamy. ‘Exo’ means out side and ‘gamy’ mean marry. It means to

marry out side is called exogamy. In the modern times this marriage is mostly in

practice.

b) Endogamy:

‘Endo’ means within and ‘gamy’ means to marry. So to marry within the group is

endogamy. It is opposite to exogamy. This marriage is in practice mostly in the rural

areas of Pakistan. This is practiced within the group, cast, race, religion etc.

There are so many reasons for practicing this marriage. One reason is to maintain the

purity of one’s blood and not to mix-up with the out side group, class, caste and

religion.

Form/ types of marriage:

The main types of marriage are given bellow:

1. Monogamy:

The form of marriage in which one person is allowed to marry once. The person in to

have second spouse only in the case when the first one is either died or divorced. This

form of marriage is very common and prevails in many societies of east as well as

west and especially in Pakistani society.

2. Polygamy:

The form in which the person (man or woman) is allowed to marry more than once.

Male as well as female is allowed in this case to marry more than once. But our

religion allowed only male to marry more than once (4 times) and the woman is not

allowed, but when her first husband either died or divorced, she can remarry with

other male.

Polygamy is further sub-divided into:

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Introduction to Sociology

1) Polygyny: In this form the husband is permitted to have more than one wife at

one end the same time. This form of marriage is permitted by our religion Islam to

have more than one wife.

2) Polyandry: in this form one woman marries to more than one man. A woman is

having more than one husband at one and the same time, common in Malabar

(India). It is further subdivided as:

3) Group Marriage:

The type of marriage in which the brothers are required to marry with the sisters

living together. There is no specification that who will be the wife or husband of

whom.

4) Experimental Marriage:

Some people argue that before a couple permanently enters into matrimonial

alliance, both boys and girls should be allowed to come together and freely mix

and meet to understand each other. They developed understanding for marriage,

they should marry, other wise not.

5) Inter cast marriage:

Caste system is very strongly present in India. Every one believes inter-caste

marriage is practicing there. Inter caste marriage is of two types.

6) Anuloma:

When the men of higher castes are allowed to marry the women of lower castes is

called Anuloma.

Men (higher castes) + women (lower castes) = Anuloma

7) Pratiloma:

When the women of higher castes marry to the men of lower castes are called

Pratiloma.

Women (higher castes) + Man (lower castes) = Pratiloma.

8. Sororate Marriage:

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