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Answer to #1
A
Answer to #2
Interracial couples face the same marital challenges and stresses as couples of the same race (Kenney, 2002 ). There is, however, one significant difference: Mixed-race couples must deal with how others perceive their union. According to Kenney, a key factor among interracial couples' marital happiness is the degree to which the couple receives social support for their relationship. For the marriage to be successful, Kenney contends, each couple must be aware of how their marriage may be perceived by others with regard to racial issues before they marry. Even with this in mind, by and large the research evidence supports the fact that interracial marriage is more difficult than same-race marriages every step of the way because of the limited social support-and oftentimes limited family support-these couples receive.
For example, Fu, Tora, and Kendall's (2001 ) examination of interracial marriages found strong evidence to support of the fact that racial differences have a negative affect on marital happiness. Specifically, the authors maintain that it is not the cultural differences per se that affects marital happiness. Rather, they believe the marriages appear to be affected domestically on two counts: cultural lifestyle and the spouses' expectations of marital life formed throughout childhood and adolescence. Kristen Goodman (1991 ), interfaith marriage researcher, also found that in regards to racial and ethnic differences, understanding and responding to a spouse's expectations for the marriage are key factors in overall marital happiness and satisfaction, and that similarity of culture backgrounds affects expectations for marriage. Goodman differs from Fu et al., though, in her contention that cultural differences do affect marital happiness; she maintains that marital expectations are based on socialization to marriage that takes place through childhood.
Answer to #3
Married people are healthier than nonmarried individuals (Ribar,
2003). Research studies have found, for example, that marriage appears to prolong mental
acuity and functioning and is associated with more vitality in women over age 60 (Michael,
Berkman, Colditz, & Kawachi, 2001). Also, married men tend to be healthier than unmarried
men. Some research suggests that married men are healthier because their wives nurture them
and provide tender loving care for them (Maushart, 2002).
Answer to #4
Marriage brings with it numerous economic benefits:
- Owning one house or renting one apartment is cheaper than owning or renting two dwellings
- Two incomes vs. one income
- Married couples often save money by filing Federal and State taxes jointly
- Automobile insurance is often cheaper for married couples than two individuals
- Inheritance, social security, worker's compensation and other benefits allowed only to married couples.
In addition to the cost savings of living jointly in one residence, professor of economics at George Washington University, David Ribar (2003 ) cites a substantial body of research that consistently demonstrates that the average annual incomes and financial assets are greater among married couple households than for unmarried adults or for non-married cohabitation couples.
Answer to #5
1. Marriage as an Organizer of Natural Desires
The Greeks viewed the marital union as a way to organize natural sex -drives of men and women and their urges to bear children. Additionally, the Greeks viewed marriage as a vehicle for ensuring that other natural, daily needs such as safety and security needs, needs for shelter, and needs for food were met through the division of labor pair bonding provides.
2. Marriage as a Social Good
This dimension can be likened to the ideas associated with collectivist cultures wherein the needs of society are put before individual needs. For example, in this context healthy marriages and healthy families are a vital, necessary, and essential components of a healthy, productive society. According to Browning, Martin Luther (1522 ) put forth the notion that marriage is ordained by God for the good and beneficial gain of the married couple, their children, and the culture and society in which they live.
3. Marriage as a Communicative Reality
Marriage is a communicative reality-the nature of contemporary marriage is a bond where lives are meant to intersect for the purposes of mutual support and mutual comfort, or oneness. Because the emphasis of marriage today is more individualistic rather than a collectivist need, contemporary marriage places greater emphasis on the emotional and communication aspects of the relationship. According to Browning, in order to achieve equity and satisfaction in marriage, married couples must develop both communication and interpersonal relationship skills and nurture them throughout the life course of the marriage.
4. Marriage as Sacrament and Covenant
For many, marriage is viewed as something bound together by more than legal ties or a personal, intimate commitment to one another. The Christian, Jewish, Hindu dharma, and Islamic religions consider marriage to be divinely ordered and ordained. Thus, no marriage should be entered in to without much thought and consideration; the sacrament of marriage is deemed a sacred act.
5. Marriage as a Legal Contract
Whether one marries in a tribal ritual or in an elaborate church or temple ceremony, marriage across cultures is considered a contractual agreement between parties, be it an arrangement between the bride and groom's families where betrothal took place perhaps before the child was even born, or the conventional contractual agreement made between today's contemporary bride and groom.
Answer to #6
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