SAME-SEX MARRIAGE

A SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE
NGUYEN HAI ANH - 2211140205 TRINH NHAT MINH - 2212140060
DUONG NGOC KHANH - 2212140042 TRAN XUAN TRUONG - 2212140081
LE NGUYEN ANH MINH - 2212140055
 INTRODUCTION
Marriage
A legally and socially sanctioned union that is regulated by
laws, rules, customs, beliefs, and attitudes that prescribe the
rights and duties of the partners and accords status to their
offspring (if any)
Same-sex marriage
The practice of marriage between two men or between two
women
Importance of the topic
Same-sex marriage has gained attention across the world
Some places are moving towards recognition, or prevention
In Vietnam: Increased attention, visibility, and support
 SAME-SEX UNIONS SINCE
ANCIENT TIMES...

Mesopotamia China
Greece & Rome
Dynes, Wayne R. and Stephen Donaldson. 1992. Homosexuality in the
Ancient World. New York, NY: Garland.
 THE RELIGION’S
RESTRICTION
After the Middle Ages,
the Catholic Church redefined “marriages”:
Marriage is procreative:
It is for producing offsprings;
Marriage is sacred:
It is a sacrament instituted by Christ;

Marriage is heterosexual:
It is between baptized men & women;

=> Same-sex marriages became

restricted
"Code of Canon Law - IntraText". www.vatican.va.
IN THE MODERN WORLD...

As of 2024,
Gay marriage is legal in over 30
countries;

But illegal in 64 countries;

And punishable by death in 7

countries.

What’s the sociological

perspective on this?

Bell, P. (2024, May 21). Same-Sex Marriage around the world. Pew
Research Center.
 CHARACTERISTICS

“LIKE HETEROSEXUALS, MANY

LESBIAN, GAY, AND BISEXUAL
PEOPLE WANT TO FORM STABLE,
LONG-LASTING RELATIONSHIPS
AND MANY OF THEM DO”

American Psychological Association (APA)

 CHARACTERISTICS
BACKGROUND & FORMATION WEDDINGS
IN COMPARISON WITH DIFFERENT-SEX COUPLES RITES, RITUALS & DISPLAYS

Background of partners involved The wedding rite can reflect a couple’s dynamics and their
beliefs on same-sex marriage.

Rituals may vary, uniting personal and socio-cultural factors.

More likely to have different …but similar age & Wedding rituals may be displayed in 1 of 4 ways:
economic backgrounds… education levels

Relationships form due to similar factors, but

More likely to form in Less likely to form if

urban environments one or both partners
lives with parents

Kurdek, L. A. (2005). What do we know about gay and lesbian couples? Current Directions in Psychological Science, 14(5), 251–254. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.0963-7214.2005.00375.x
Lin, Z., Yu, W., & Su, K. (2019). Comparing same- and different-sex relationship dynamics: Experiences of young adults in Taiwan. Demographic Research, 40, 431–462. https://doi.org/10.4054/demres.2019.40.17
Mamali, E., & Stevens, L. (2020). When Same-Sex Couples Say ‘I Do’: Display work and the (Re)Production of the Wedding rite. Sociology, 54(5), 987–1003. https://doi.org/10.1177/0038038520922523
Wiik, K. A., Seierstad, A., & Noack, T. (2014). Divorce in Norwegian Same‐Sex Marriages and Registered Partnerships: The role of children. Journal of Marriage and the Family/Journal of Marriage and Family, 76(5), 919–929.
https://doi.org/10.1111/jomf.12132
 CHARACTERISTICS
CHARACTERISTICS
And how same-sex relationships compare with different-sex ones

THROUGHOUT THE RELATIONSHIP DISSOLUTION

Similar relationship problems & satisfaction levels Dissolves due to similar factors as different-sex couples

Better household equality & conflict resolution More likely to divorce than different-sex couples, with lesbian
couples more so than gay couples
More perceived support from friends & less perceived
support from families
Has increased likelihood of dissolution if:
May be less stable One or both partners live with parents
The couple has children

Survival time of same-sex male,

female, and opposite sex unions,
from the Norweigian marriage
database (Wiik, 2014)

Kurdek, L. A. (2005). What do we know about gay and lesbian couples? Current Directions in Psychological Science, 14(5), 251–254. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.0963-7214.2005.00375.x
Lin, Z., Yu, W., & Su, K. (2019). Comparing same- and different-sex relationship dynamics: Experiences of young adults in Taiwan. Demographic Research, 40, 431–462. https://doi.org/10.4054/demres.2019.40.17
Mamali, E., & Stevens, L. (2020). When Same-Sex Couples Say ‘I Do’: Display work and the (Re)Production of the Wedding rite. Sociology, 54(5), 987–1003. https://doi.org/10.1177/0038038520922523
Wiik, K. A., Seierstad, A., & Noack, T. (2014). Divorce in Norwegian Same‐Sex Marriages and Registered Partnerships: The role of children. Journal of Marriage and the Family/Journal of Marriage and Family, 76(5), 919–929.
https://doi.org/10.1111/jomf.12132
 STRUCTURAL-FUNCTIONAL
APPROACH
DEFINITION:
A framework for building theory that sees
society as a complex system whose parts
work together to promote solidarity and
stability.

Same-sex marriage does have social

functions - the consequences of any social
pattern for the operation of society as a
whole (especially related to LGBTQ+
people). These functions include manifest
functions, latent functions and social
dysfunctions.

The recognized and intended consequences of any social pattern
LEGAL AND
ECONOMIC
BENEFITS
Ensures that same-sex
couples receive equal
legal rights and benefits
In the U.S., legal
recognition affects
household taxation,
providing financial
stability for same-sex
couples:
(Friedberg & Isaac, 2023b)
MANIFEST FUNCTIONS
ENHANCED SOCIAL ACCEPTANCE
PSYCHOLOGICAL POSITIVE IMPACT ON
AND REDUCED
WELL-BEING CHILDREN
STIGMA
Enhance self-esteem and Children of same-sex Increases visibility,
positive self-identity for couples benefit from normalization,
LGBTQ+ individuals. stability and legal security acceptance of LGBTQ+
relationships.
Following the 2015 Children raised by same-
sex parents develop
Obergefell decision The positive attitude
similarly to other children.
legalizing same-sex towards same-sex
marriage across the U.S, a marriage in the US has
The American Academy
study shows that: increased overtime:
of Pediatrics has
supported this:
(The Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law, (Sh, n.d.-b) (Mitchell, 2024b)
2020b)
 LATENT FUNCTIONS
The unrecognized and unintended consequences of any social pattern

STRENGTHENING SOCIAL
ECONOMIC BOOST
INSTITUTIONS

Same-sex marriage legalization Same-sex marriage legalization

Higher demand for (same-sex) weddings Emphasizing importance and value of the
and related services institution of marriage and family

More expenditure spent, services Stronger family units and community

delivered bonds

Positive economic impacts for related Contributing to social stability

businesses, employment rates
(Manning et al., 2022b)

Manning, W. D., Westrick-Payne, K. K., & Gates, G. J. (2022). Cohabitation and Marriage among Same-Sex Couples in the 2019 ACS and CPS: A research note.
 SOCIAL DYSFUNCTIONS
Any social pattern that may disrupt the operation of society

PUBLIC DIVISION AND FOSTERING “WOKE” LGBTQ+

POLARIZATION CULTURE
A portion of individuals in our society DEFINITION: A heightened
still do not advocate same-sex awareness and advocacy for
marriage LGBTQ+ rights and issue

Debates, protests, efforts to restrict

LGBTQ+ rights
Violence against LGBTQ+ individuals
PROBLEMS: Virtue signaling -
making public gestures of
(Blazina, 2024c) support for LGBTQ+ rights
without trying to make a change

EXAMPLE: The number of

In 2018, the U.S. Supreme Court
LGBTQ+ elements in media has
ruled in favor of a Colorado baker
who refused to make a wedding been increasing, but how many of
cake for a same-sex couple due to
them is meaningful?
his religious beliefs
Some countries in Eastern Europe
and Russia have seen increased
(CFR.org Editors, 2022b)
legal restrictions and hostility
towards LGBTQ+ communities

Manning, W. D., Westrick-Payne, K. K., & Gates, G. J. (2022). Cohabitation and Marriage among Same-Sex Couples in the 2019 ACS and CPS: A research note.
SOCIAL-CONFLICT APPROACH

DEFINITION:
Society is a system of inequalities (Based
on class, gender, and race).

With this approach, we look into how

same-sex marriage differs with the 3
factors mentioned above.
CLASS DIFFERENCE AFFECTS SAME-SEX MARRIAGE VIEW

This stems from two core factors
that are income and education.
Findings
People with more education are
more likely than those with less
education to support allowing
gays and lesbians to marry
People with incomes over
the national average are
more likely than those with
incomes at or below the
median to support same-sex
marriage

-> The upper class, characterized by

higher incomes, is more supportive of
same-sex marriage due to their
economic stability and access to
resources
 WOMEN ARE MORE LIKELY TO FAVOR SAME-SEX MARRIAGE

Why?

Lower levels of
homophobia among
women

Heterosexual men perceive

gay men as violating
gender roles more than
lesbians do

Pew Research Center. (2023b, November 22).

DIFFERENT RACES HAVE CONTRADICTORY VIEWS ON SAME-SEX MARRIAGE

Culture and religion are

two deeply-rooted
factors
Social change is the
chage-driving factor

Pew Research Center. (2023b, November 22).

SYMBOLIC-INTERACTION
APPROACH
Definition: A framework for building
theory that sees society as the product
of the everyday interactions of
individuals

The Power of Symbols and Meaning

Traditionally, marriage = heteronormativity

Now, marriage = love + commitment +

partnership
(despite sexual orientation)
 SOCIAL INTERACTIONS AND
NEGOTIATIONS
Shifting Public The Role of Social
Discourse Media
Social interactions, from Social media platforms and
casual conversations to media portrayals play a
public debates, influence significant role in shaping
how individuals understand attitudes.
and negotiate the meaning
of same-sex marriage.
 THE DYNAMICS OF IDENTITY AND
CHANGE

Narratives of The "Evolving

Identity Self"
Symbolic interactionism Social media provides a
emphasizes the role of platform for LGBTQ+
narratives in shaping individuals to explore
personal and collective their identities and
identities. connect with others
RITUALS AND COMMITMENT
IN THE MODERN WORLD
Wedding ceremonies are becoming
much more common for same-sex
couples.
=> Signify the couple's unique bond
=> Contribute to a broader acceptance
of diverse expressions of marriage.