Problems in Marriage and Types of Marriage

Topics we will explore:

Problems and conflict with marriage

Intermarriage – types, reasons, challenges

Same-sex marriages, Arranged marriages, Poly marriages

Infidelity, Violence, and Power in Marriage

divorce

PROBLEMS AND CONFLICT WITH MARRIAGE

The majority of the problems and conflicts in marriage are

-Intimacy

-Children

-Money

-Housework

Intermarriage – types, reasons, challenges

Interracial marriage:

Reasons: Similar socio-economic backgrounds

Challenges: Raising an interracial child because it requires the couple to reflect on what role race plays in their own identities

Interfaith marriage:

Reasons: Similar economic and educational background

Challenges: Individuals might have to compromise their own beliefs and customs or accept their spouse’s beliefs and customers as well as their own. Couples also have to decide what faith identity to provide for their children.

Interethnic marriage:

Reasons: socioeconomic, and environmental reasons

Challenges: Neogoitating their relationship at each stage

Same-sex marriages, Arranged marriages, Poly marriages

Same-sex marriages: Same-sex marriage has been around but was permitted in Canada in 2005. It is a couple of the same sex in a relationship.

Arranged marriages: Arranged marriages are usually organized by family due to religious or cultural reasons.

Poly Marriages:

Infidelity, Violence, and Power in Marriage

INFIDELITY:

Theories:

Evolutionary psychology: Man was tempted to have many sexual partners to enhance his chance of having offspring

Propinquity: Invdiduals behave in a morally acceptable way, this theory suggests that propinquity can make infidelity more tempting

Consequences: Infidelity can lead to divorce, and leave the party humiliated

VIOLENCE:

The cycle of violence:

-Tension building: The victim attempts to maintain equilibrium by carefully meeting their partner’s demands. This phase can last a long time.

-Abusive Incident: One or more serious assaults occur, triggered by an event that is unpredictable.

-Calm and Penance: The preparator becomes remorseful and apologetic and attempts to make up for the violence by being affectionate or romantic.

Theories: Feminist theory:

The feminist theory explains that spousal violence happens because of the misuse of power and control. Most violence is prepared by men and women are at the most risk. This violence is tolerated because of the patriarchal society. In a patriarchal marriage, most men acquire power by their gender and age but also by their greater physical size and strength.

POWER:

Men usually have the power in the relationship due to them earning money for the family, and women being the homemakers.

Divorce

Divorce results in a failure of marriage to meet the expectations of one or both marriage partners

Divorce in Canada:

Theories of Divorce:

Exchange theory: Suggests that when the costs of the relationship are high or there are better alternatives more attractive than marriage then individuals may choose to divorce. Divorced people identify the “costs” as reasons for divorce.

Stages of Divorce:

Awareness phase: One individual decides to initiate a divorce after recognizing ongoing problems and a period of denial. The partner may eventually know what is happening but deny knowledge until confronted with a request for divorce. The partners begin to withdraw from the relationship by shifting their energies onto other roles.

Separation phase: The couple plans to break up their marital system, settle child custody and financial issues, they also notify their friends and families, and create separate households.

Reorganization phase: Two individuals establish their separate lives and negotiate their new parental roles if they have children