The best selection of spouses is done on the basis of some factors that run within every society. The United States and other societies originally had a habit of endogamy, which means marriage happens within one social category or social group. People marry others of the same race, same religion, same caste, and so on. Homogamy is the bias to choose and marry a couple who features us in all ways. Today you will learn how marriage between individuals who have similar social characteristics happens and what are the rules of marriage in sociology.
1. How Marriage between Individuals who have Similar Social Characteristics happens?
Most United States married couples are homogamous, which means marriage between individuals who have similar social characteristics. They have the same personality, educational background, race, and ethnicity as well. Some studies in homogamy state that married couples resemble each other in terms of physical and psychological traits. (See What is the Most Devastating Family Disruption?)
2. How does Sociology affect Marriage?
Marital society is considered a permanent social and legal contract. The relationship is based on mutual rights and debt among the spouses. It is also based on a romantic relationship; it typically describes a sexual relationship between two people. Take a look to know how does sociology affect marriage:
- According to the famous sociologist Talcott Parsons, marriage and household play a significant role in the caretaker’s life. They take care of the socialization and emotional needs of the people.
- Societies after marriage are where the husband or father takes the power of marriage, which is termed patriarchy.
- Marriage serves as the social function which determines the family names and hereditary origins.
- In the United States, patrilineal descent is practiced a lot, which means a family name that follows the husband and father.
3. What are the Rules of Marriage in Sociology?
You already know how marriage between individuals who have similar social characteristics is done. Let’s see what are the rules of marriage in sociology. Rules of marriage state that no society gives absolute freedom to its members to select their partners. Endogamy and exogamy are the two rules of the marital condition.
- Endogamy: It is a rule of marriage where life partners are selected within the group. It is marriage within the group, which includes caste, class, tribe, race, village, religious group, etc. There are different types of endogamies, such as caste endogamy, class endogamy, sub-caste endogamy, race endogamy, tribal endogamy, etc. Caste endogamy is where marriage takes place within the same caste.
- Exogamy: It is a rule of marriage where an individual marries outside of his own group. It restricts marriage within the group. The blood relatives should not have marital connections or sexual relationships with one another.
4. What is a Companionate Marriage?
This type of marriage is based on affection, friendship, and sexual content. Companionate marriage is not similar to institutional marriage, which is based on economic terms. It is based on the idea of childhood and creating new patterns through creating love. It is a giveaway to individualized marriage, which is a challenge to the separate field. (See 12 Friends for Benefits Meaning and Rules)
5. How are Monogamy and Polygamy Differentiated?
In the United States, monogamy is the union between two individuals. It is a traditional union of one man and one woman. An individual has a lot of spouses over a long time, which is common in industrial society and is called serial monogamy. There are countries that recognize same-sex unions. In 2015, a lot of countries started to allow same-sex marriage.
Polygamy means the union of three or more individuals, which is the second most common form of marriage. Polygamy is defined as a marriage between a man and multiple women. (See What is a Community?)
6. Is Marrying into the Same Religion good?
American society has become less religious nowadays, people share religious beliefs which are important for marital success. They have the key to a successful marriage. It has been observed that 47% of married adults share religious beliefs with one spouse, which is important. Nearly two-thirds of the married couples have the same religious tradition, and it is compared to 24% of those married to the same religion, and the rest are also religiously associated spouses. (See How many different religions are there in the World?)
7. How does Homogamy affect Socially?
Homogamy, if seen from sociology’s point of view, is marriage and mating with a person of similar economic status, ethnicity, race, and age. They also possess the same education level and religion as well. It is a common trait for mating, which is a type of sexual selection. Must see what is a family function?
Hence, we can say that marriage between people who share similar social qualities is known as homogamy. It refers to how similar all these traits are to one another. Homogamy consists of a variety of characteristics, such as age differences, ethnic differences, and educational backgrounds. When a husband takes care of the family, which is an important factor in marital status, marital society is affected socially. I hope this post helped you build a perspective on what a comparable marital status means and how that influences society. (See Importance of Marriage Coaching)
