Abstract
The purpose of this paper is to describe the marriage practices of the village of Andaloor in India and the Mosuo people of Southwest China, their perceptions of one another, my own personal perceptions of these practices, and my attitude towards diversity. This paper provides background information on the two different countries and also demonstrates my knowledge on the subject of cultural differences in marriage in the two countries.
Cross-Cultural Differences in Marriage Practices between the People of Andaloor and the People of Mosuo Introduction Marriage or a relationship similar to, is a tremendous component of the human experience. Its function is practiced in every culture worldwide; but in very different forms
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When a man decides he is ready to get married, both financially and mentally, he and his parents confer with each other on their prospects for the bride. Most of the time, the spouses are chosen by the parents, elders or a match maker. Numerous conditions by the groom and his parents and the matching of horoscopes are contemplated before the completion of the match. (al-Zu’abi & Jagdish, 2008)
When the woman who matches these requirements is found, the man goes to the woman’s house with some companions. If the man is satisfied with the girl and the background of her family, he will tell his parents and relatives to go visit her for further investigation. If the groom’s family is satisfied with the woman’s background and family, they will introduce the proposal and ask for a horoscope of the woman. If the groom’s family informs the bride’s family that the horoscope matches, the bride’s family will now have their turn to intently observe the grooms family. The bride’s family also has the right to refuse the proposal if they find something displeasing about the groom or his family. After the bridal party accepts the proposal a ceremony takes place at the woman’s residence. This function is an agreement between both sides of the wedding in front of family elders. This party is when the date for engagement is settled. The engagement is a ceremony where the couple tie their horoscopes together and takes place at the bride’s house. The engagement is where the wedding date is
Marriage is important in human society. Marriage is “the customs, rules, and obligations that establish a special relationship between a sexually cohabitating adult male and female, between them and any children they produce, and between the kin of the bride and groom” (Arenson, and Miller-Thayer 520). Most of the cultures are used to seeing only female and male getting married but looking deeper into the society; we can see there are more to it. There are many different types of marriages. In an ethnography called, Guest of the Sheik, by Elizabeth Warnock Fernea, she talks about her experiences in a small rural village of El Nahra in southern Iraq. Ethnography is “comprised of the writings of the anthropologist, detailing the life ways of a particular culture, investigated by means of direct fieldwork” (1). As she gets accepted by the women of the villages, she gets a more inclusive view of the culture.
Marriage is a fundamental practice that influences village dynamics and political processes in many societies in past and present human cultures. Not only is marriage a process that supports human kinship systems, it allows for alliances and reciprocity systems between groups that create variation in human social organization (Walker et al. 2011). This paper explores the sources of variation in marriage and mating systems in two very different societies, the !Kung San and the Yanomamo, in terms of the vastly different environments each of them inhabit. The !Kung San, a traditional nomadic hunter-gatherer society, reside in the Dobe area on the edge of the Kalahari desert of Botswana (Shostak 1981, p.7). Due to the demanding environment of
Marriage practices vary across cultures. Every culture has its own way of conducting marriage according to their traditions and customs. Most cultures share common customs and practices, while some cultures have unique practices. Marriage refers to a social union agreed upon by the couples to unit as spouses. The union of couples implies sexual relations, permanence in union, and procreation. This research paper focuses on comparing marriage practices in American and Indian culture. There is significant difference between the two cultures in marriage practices.
As a beginning of this film, a myth is told by the Nyinba people of Nepal: a story of fearsome spirits thought to kill children and the weak. Their crime was adulterous passionate love and it was this that had condemned them to live eternally between life and death. In this film, we learn about and explore marriages in tribal societies. We can clearly identify the differences that challenge both side’s ideas and sensibilities about marriage bonds.
As Anthropologist Kimber McKay challenged the world’s outlook on what we believe to be a traditional, normal marriage, I was intrigued by the results of her fieldwork that displayed the different types of marriages occurring around the world. In her research in the Nepalese Himalaya, she lived within the community of polyandrous people participating in their daily life. In Humla, it was common for a polyandrous woman to marry a man and his brothers. McKay shared a video from a polyandrous woman that described the relationship she had with her two husbands. Here are her words: “If the husbands agree with it (polyandry) then it’s good. One can take care of the local work and the other can do outside work.” I hypothesize the reason polyandry
Marriage celebrated in the Persian culture ceremonial wise, as well as its values has been proven to be different to the western ideals of marriage in its traditional sense. For a questionnaire response, participants were asked if the tradition, concept and values of marriage were changing for the Persian women who migrate to Australia. 69 of the 81 (85.18%) respondents believed so and the remaining argued against.
In recent years, marriage has become not only a relationship with one man and one woman, but in America same sex couples and men who have multiples wives are able to wed as well. Indian and Japanese men and women are able to wed through an arrangement of both families. In ancient China, Chinese couples also had arranged marriages, but in modern times the tradition has faded. Although the way people get married is different a woman’s role in the marriage is similar culture to culture throughout ancient India, China, and Japan, divorce is a common practice in American now, but thousands of years ago there were still laws and criticisms among couples in Indian and Chinese Civilizations preventing such action, and life after a death of a
In Millennium: Strange Relations, presented by David Maybury Lewis examines the concept of marriage by focusing on three different groups the Nyimba of Nepal, Wodaabe of Niger, finally a Canada (Western European viewpoint). Lewis also examines the concepts of monogamy, fraternal polyandry, and polygyny with the respective case studies.
In the eastern side of the world, arranged marriages are very common. It is not like the western world where couples date to know each other then choose whether they are the perfect match. Arranged marriages are often chosen by the elders in the family. This practice has been handed down for centuries. Throughout the marriage process, there are certain procedures that must be followed in eastern matchmaking. Once a match has been chosen, the couple will learn over time that commitment and acceptance comes prior to emotions and happiness. Even though our western ways may seem normal to us, the traditions of eastern marriages are custom through procedure, commitment and acceptance within their society.
Arranged marriages are set up by friends and family, and sometimes by a matchmaker that sets up the marriage. But the bride’s father has the most responsibility in arranging marriage for his daughter, and is the one who approaches the father of a potential bridegroom. Important aspects when considering a possible match are financial status, caste, and the bride and bridegrooms horoscopes matching. The role of astrology is important, and if a Hindu priest finds that the horoscopes of the potential spouses do not match, they will not marry, and must begin the search all over again (Livermore, 2009). India’s view of marriage first and then love is very different from the Western view where love comes before marriage, seems to be successful. The
Marriage is a ritual that marks a change in status for a man and a woman and the acceptance by society of the new family that is formed (Rosman & Rubel, 1981). Marriage, like other customs, is governed by rules (Rosman & Rubel, 1981). Anthropology has represented marriage as the definitive ritual and universally translatable regulative ideal of human societies (BORNEMAN, 1996). Marriage also the act of joining two persons of opposite sex together to become as husband and wife. Many people in the society have different opinions or outright misconception of the meaning of marriage. While some people see it as a union between a man and woman, others take it to mean an agreement made between a man
Established with Adam and Eve, still surviving, marriage is the oldest institution known. Often the climax of most romantic movies and stories, whether it may be ‘Pride and Prejudice’ or ‘Dil Wale Dulhaniya Ley Jaein Gey’, marriage has a universal appeal. It continues to be the most intimate social network, providing the strongest and most frequent opportunity for social and emotional support. Though, over the years, marriage appears to be tarnished with high divorce rates, discontentment and infidelity, it is still a principal source of happiness in the lives of respective partners. Although marriage is perceived as a deeply flawed institution serving more the needs of the society than those of the individuals, nevertheless, marriage is
Marriage “the state of being united to a person of the opposite sex as husband or wife in a consensual and contractual relationship recognized by law” (Merriam-Webster). In my research I will be discussing the progression of marriage in south Asia. South Asia is a well-known region for countries such as Bangladesh, Pakistan, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka etc. The birthplace of both Hinduism and Buddhism originated in south Asia and it’s the world 's third and fourth largest religions. In the 7th century A.D Islam arrived with the Arab conquest. “The Gate of Islam,” is what the Arab Empire called Pakistan and till this day and age the country still remains predominantly an Islamic nation. South Asia has a very wide distinct ethnic group, these
In Hinduism marriage is considered the most sacred commitment. This is a commitment of the souls and minds, not just physical bodies. Many Hindus enlist the help of someone called a match maker. The match maker observes and examines all single individuals in the village. Typically, the family sits down with the match maker and
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