Indian Society

Marriage
Marriage involves the union of two individuals who decide to live in an intimate relationship
for the major portion of their life. It is said to be one of the deepest and most complex forms
of human relationships. Landis (1954) observes, “marriage and family are not optional; they
are necessary. They meet man’s deepest needs.” It provides for the reliable satisfaction of
certain vital personal needs both physical and psychological. Throughout the world, marriage
behavior and family life are changing. Young people are waiting later to marry, couples are
having fewer children, and more married women are working outside the home. (53)1
(Marriage
Two people who choose to spend the most of their lives together in an intimate relationship
are said to be married. It is regarded as one of the most intricate and profound types of human
relationships. Marriage and having children are essential; they are not elective, according to
Landis (1954). They satisfy man's most basic requirements. Certain crucial personal needs,
both physical and psychological, are reliably met by it. Marriage practises and family life are
evolving everywhere. Couples are having fewer children, young people are waiting longer to
get married, and more married women are working outside the home.)
Marriage aims at sexual satisfaction
In Indian society sex is permissible only within the context of a marriage. Significantly larger
percentage of the male respondents rated satisfying sexual urges as the primary reason for
marriage, in comparison to their female counterparts. Similar findings were observed in a
survey conducted by the Family Planning Association of India. It is possible that the females
tend to deny or suppress the importance of their sexual needs, while more importance is given
to their need for security, and for their desire for parenthood, which can give them acceptance
in society. (55)
(Sex is only acceptable in the context of marriage in Indian society. In comparison to the
female respondents, a much higher proportion of men cited satifying sexual needs as the main
motivation for marriage. Similar results were found in a survey carried out by the Indian
Family Planning Association. It's likely that women choose to downplay or repress the
significance of their sexual wants in favour of other needs, such as security requirements and
parental desires, which might help them gain acceptance in society.)
Economic dependence of female on husband
Men are no longer considered to be the sole “economic provider” for the family. With the rise
in females’ education, their psychological need to develop self-identity, materialistic
orientation, status consciousness, and the rising cost of living, more and more married women
are entering into professional careers, and at the same time taking care of the family
members. (55)2
1
Mamta Chaturvedi and Dinesh Singh, “Attitude of Indian Youth Towards Marriage and Family Relations ,”
Indian Journal of Health and Wellbeing 2015, 6(1), 53-56.
2
Mamta Chaturvedi and Dinesh Singh, “Attitude of Indian Youth Towards Marriage and Family Relations ,”
Indian Journal of Health and Wellbeing 2015, 6(1), 53-56.
((Men are no longer viewed as the family's main "economic provider." More and more
married women are pursuing professional professions while also caring for their families as a
result of the rise in female education, their psychological desire to create self-identity, a
materialistic orientation, a status consciousness, and the rising cost of living.)-----------------
Marital Intimacy and Conflict in India
Marital Intimacy and Conflict in India Few Indian studies have examined the notion of
marital intimacy (an exception is Sandhya, 2002). Intimacy can have three manifestations:
behavioral (intimate interactions), semantic (meaning of intimacy), and physical (love and
sex).3 (58)
(Conflict and Marital Intimacy in India
Conflict and Marital Intimacy in India Only a few research in India have looked at the idea of
marital closeness (an exception is Sandhya, 2002). Three ways that intimacy might appear are
behavioural (intimate interactions), semantic (intimacy's definition), and physical (love and
sex))
Hierarchy and the wish for intimacy in an Indian family.
The traditional patrilocal ideology in India structures families and society along the principle
of hierarchy (Carstairs, 1967; Dumont, 1970; Roland, 1988). Within families, hierarchy or
the authority structure is a tool used to govern subordinate members to perform their duties
around institutionally anchored roles (Roland, 1988). New brides generally are perceived and
treated as lowest on the hierarchy structure given their gender, distance to the patriarch, and
absence of membership from the kin group; their position in the hierarchy will, however,
elevate if they become mothers of a male infant. Since the well-being of a family hinges on
individuals following their role-obligations, senior family members also minimize marital
interaction of husbands and wives by controlling the ‘‘romantic complex’’(78)4
(India's ancient patrilocal worldview employs a hierarchy to organise households and society
(Carstairs, 1967; Dumont, 1970; Roland, 1988). In families, the authority structure or
hierarchy is a mechanism used to direct lower members to carry out their tasks in accordance
with institutionally rooted roles (Roland, 1988). Given their gender, distance from the
patriarch, and lack of kinship, newlyweds are typically seen and treated as being at the
bottom of the hierarchy system; but, if they have a male child, their status will rise. Senior
family members also reduce marital connection between husbands and wives by managing
the "romantic complex" because the health of a family depends on each member upholding
their responsibilities.)-------------------------------------------

3
Shaifali Sandhya, “The Social Context of Marital Happiness in Urban Indian Couples: Interplay of Intimacy and
Conflict,” Journal of Marital and Family Therapy January 2009, Vol. 35, No. 1, 74–96.

4
Shaifali Sandhya, “The Social Context of Marital Happiness in Urban Indian Couples: Interplay of Intimacy and
Conflict,” Journal of Marital and Family Therapy January 2009, Vol. 35, No. 1, 74–96.