Neha BhosleAIR 15 · CSE 2019 · 251 wordsTheir whole copy
Opening · a definition
Marriage is a socially acceptable and approved sexual union between two adult individuals.
It may be inferred that marriage is no longer a popular institution as:
Body · points
(1) Increase in the average age at the time of first marriage, for both men and women (2) Increase in divorce rates. (3) Social acceptance of institution of 'cohabitation' (4) Openly homosexual relations. (5) Legal recognition to adoption by a single parent. (6) Medical advances which have led to IVF, surrogacy technologies which are allowing singles to have own biological children Example: Karan johar, Tusshar
(7) Inclusion of friends in the kinship network and household (8) Adultery However, this is only a partial picture and marriage as an institution has evolved but not disappeared as seen by: (1) Serial monogamy replacing pure monogamy. (2) Proliferation of dating Apps like Tinder and matrimonial Apps like Bharat Matrimony. (3) Legal pronouncements which apply domestic violence Act, Maintenance Act and Inheritance Act even in case of 'cohabitation' thus giving it a status similar to marriage. (4) Legal recognition and increasing social acceptance of homosexual marriages in the West.
(5) 'Open marriage' as a concept is finding some takers and acceptance. (6) Marriage among elderly for companionship is seen. (7) 'Shared Parenting' continues even after divorce.
Thus, some functions of marriage have reduced like: a) sexual regulation b) reproduction c) economic -> women empowerment d) status definition, social placement.
Close · a summary
However, certain functions like affectional and companionship have grown in importance and hence overall, marriage as an institution still survives.