Change in marriage patterns and spouse selection

Marriage is one of the important social institutions found in all societies of the world notwithstanding
having different forms of mate selection and different types. One of the core issues of this institution is
that it sanctioned the union of males and females for purpose of establishing a household, procreating,
and providing care for the offspring (Majumder, 1977). Marriage is the basic and important unit of
society because of the role it plays in the generation of human capital resources and the power that is
vested in it to influence individual, household, and community behavior (Sriram, 1993). It is also a
major source of nurturance, emotional bonding, and socialization and a link between continuity and
change ( Desai, 1995).

Change is a law of nature. Everything in this world is under change. Social institutions like family and
marriage are also influenced by societal forces. Both institutions have withstood the ravage of time and
the shocks of centuries. Whereas the family has largely changed from joint to nuclear, the institution
of marriage in India has undergone significant changes such as the age at marriage, the spread of
divorce, the reduction in marriage times and extravagant expenditure on it, and so on. Some changes
are beneficial to society, while others have a negative impact.

Evolution of marriage:

Marriage ceremonies were first documented around 2350 B.C. in Mesopotamia. Our ancestors
most likely lived in a 'primal horde' (Coontz, 2005). There was no long-term pair bonding in a primal
horde, and males and females copulated with numerous partners. There was no bonding between men
and women, and infants were more developed at birth than in later periods. Males were neither
providers nor protectors, making the formation of pairs obsolete (Fisher, 2004). Around 5000 years
ago, the invention and increased use of the the plow and draught animals altered human interaction.
More productive agricultural production enabled cities to grow in size, allowing for the division and
specialization of labor. Major societal shifts had a significant impact on families and marriages.
Marriages can be identified as relatively equal partners in some societies, particularly more
contemporary agrarian societies, with both partners contributing equally to the family's economic
survival.

Changes in the marriage :

The separation of work and family life was the most significant change that industrialization brought
about within the family institution. The work-life separation had a variety of effects on marital systems.
First and foremost, families shifted from large extended family systems to smaller nuclear households.
The industrial economy also aided the transition from a producer to a consumer culture. In earlier
family systems, families produced everything they needed, from shelter to food and clothing. This shift
from producers to consumers has had a significant impact on the marital arrangement. (Sinha, 1984).
Women's educational attainment has increased, while fertility has decreased. These changes have
increased opportunities for women outside the home and reduce economic dependence on one sex on
the other. (Leete, 1994). Despite the issue of increased divorce rates, the shift away from viewing
marriage as solely an institution for economic cooperation and the production of children has opened
up a plethora of options in today's society. This is not to say that all pressures to marry have gone
away, but marrying for economic survival is no longer the norm. Within the postmodern framework,
rates of cohabitation, single parenting, couples remaining childless voluntarily, and the openness to
same-sex partnerships have all increased.

a.Changes Occurring in the Marriage patterns

Although monogamy was the most common form of marriage in traditional society, polyandry,
polygamy, bigamy, and marriage by exchange were also common. Polygamy, polyandry, and exchange
marriages have all declined significantly over time. Marriages are becoming less common in many
countries and marriage rates are declining There has been a ‘decoupling’ of parenthood and marriage.
The share of children born outside of marriage has increased substantially in almost all developed
countries. Globally, the percentage of women in either marriage or cohabitation is decreasing, but only
slightly. Single parenting is common, and in many countries it has increased in recent decades. Same-
sex marriage has become possible in many countries

b. Change in the Aim and Purpose of marriage:

.Earlier the marriages were to perform sacred duties and functions. The prime function was to become
kins and protectors of the family. With the advent of a variety of factors like mass media, consumerism,
and globalization the sacred types of relations are turning to fade. The aims and purposes have
changed their meaning from respect, faithfulness, sincerity to less respect, greed and unfaithfulness,
etc.

c. Change in Marriage Age:

When it comes to marriage age in India, it is revealed that children used to marry at a young age,
especially girls. In some cases, such as Rajasthan, girls were married at a very young age, around 3-4
years old, even though they had no idea what marriage meant. In traditional Indian societies, the
marriage system was heavily reliant on arranged marriages from an early age. To maintain the honor
of the family, women's sexuality must be carefully controlled. Husbands and wives should not be overly
emotionally attached, as this could jeopardize the patriarchal family's unity (Jones, 2010).

d. Change in Marriage Stability (Increase in Divorce Rates)

Marriage was a relatively stable institution in the past, with few divorces recorded. Fear of the kinship
system, and strong social codes, never allowed married couples to break up marriages whether they
wanted to live together or not. Divorce carried a significant stigma in the past, and the pressure for the
sake of the children, as well as for the sake of appearances and family honor, was extremely strong
(Goody, 1973). Legislation, education, technological advancement, and increased awareness have all
contributed to the stability of the marriage institution.

Change in Spouse Selection Process:

There is wide cross-cultural variation in the social rules that govern the selection of marriage partners.
In some communities, partner selection is an individual decision, while in others, it is a collective
decision made by the partners’ kin groups. Among different cultures, there is also variation in the rules
regulating whom individuals can choose to marry. In the past, parents usually chose the spouse and
the girl had little say. Some numerous stories and stocks support the idea that parents used to marry
their daughters at their discretion. Due to various factors such as increased education among girls,
urbanization, economic independence, and so on, children are now consulted in marriage matters, and
even girls and boys talk and try to understand each other's perspectives before executing marriage
ceremonies. The Indian system thus crumbled when forced by changing reality in the form of extended
education for girls, the effect of which on raising marriage ages and making the choice of spouse
themselves (Cadwell, 1992).
References:s

https://ourworldindata.org/marriages-and-divorces

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/
269746286_Changing_patterns_of_marriage_in_Indian_society#:~:text=The%20practice
%20of%20monogamy%20has,in%20the%20institution%20of%20marriage.