Different types of sexualities and relationships are constantly being acknowledged and accepted all around the world. However, heterosexuality still remains as the dominant discourse because the society continues to promote it in the media, in literature and in many other things, such as legal documents and weddings. Weddings and marriages are usually promoted as a wonderful celebration that legally unite two people, but Bernstein’s, Hunter’s and Ingraham’s articles argue that the institution of marriage exists mainly to reinforce heterosexuality. Their articles, along with other scholarly texts demonstrate how marriages center around the state’s interests, social and cultural beliefs of what relationships are considered most acceptable and beneficial and gender roles.
Some people believe that weddings and marriages are
…show more content…
She agrees with Duncan that the state’s interest in marriage revolves around trying to protect the image of “the family” and reinstate the heterosexual, nuclear family. The government manages to intervene and influence a person’s choice in who they should marry by giving “benefits to heterosexual marriage: retirement and death benefits, family leave policies, health care decision making and access, taxation, immigration, and numerous others” (Heath 31). The government offers several benefits as a way to persuade people into heterosexual marriages because health care for instance, is important and useful, as medicine and medical attention are things that every person needs. Consequently, the government cleverly promotes heterosexuality by rewarding those who participate in the traditional marriage. Moreover, Mary Bernstein’s article, “The marriage contract” adds to Heath’s ideas by claiming that the state “continues to promote the heterosexual nuclear family as the norm” and is “pouring billions of dollars into promoting marriage as a way to
There are many different topics in the world that split people’s opinions. Some stronger than others. These views and opinions are often swayed by one’s political views, and one of the biggest topics that sparks controversy are the rights of all people. Some of the bigger groups are Black Lives Matter and feminists. While these are very big and prominent, the one that sparks the most controversy is the LGBT community, and one of the biggest claims they make is that they don’t have the same rights of marriage as straight people. The LGBT community have protests and parades to try to spread the message that homosexuals should have the same rights of
Over the years in our country’s history it has been apparent that the idea of same sex marriages is becoming much more popular, however in most states there is still one thing stopping them. That one thing stopping two people from the pursuit of happiness which they desire is a social injustice. Social injustices are situations where a person or group of people is treated unfairly due to certain factors for example discrimination, prejudice, racism, heterosexism, sexism, and so forth. In the case of same sex marriages, the factor playing a major role in this social injustice is where most people believe that opposite sexes attract, but in the case of a same sex couple wanting to be married, this brings about many topics to be discussed by
The two texts examined within, present the opposing extremes of views regarding gay and lesbian marriage. The first text entitled Let Gays Marry by Andrew Sullivan examines the intricacies of same sex relationships and why homosexual couples should be allowed to publicly show affection for one another. The second text that will be examined is titled Leave Marriage Alone written by William Bennett. Bennett gives his views on why couples of same sex nature should not be allowed to engage in marital relations. These two authors, although very different, each has a view of the ideals of marriage, and how it should be presented to the public.
Culturally, most twentieth century Americans consider marriage to be a foundation that naturally includes different rather than same-sex accomplices. However, some Americans are willing to endure same-sex marriage, and even to give them some indirect approval, few consider them to be real marriages. The law reflect these cultural mind. For instance, the latest version of Black's Law Dictionary characterizes marriage as the legitimate status, condition, or connection of one man and one lady united in law forever, or until separated, for the release to one another and the group of the obligations lawfully occupant on those whose affiliation is established on the refinement of sex (Eskridge, 1993).
However Bennett he brings up two points which divide opinions about same-sex marriage. One is whether homosexual marriage strengthens or weakens the institution of marriage. The other is what the definition of marriage is. If the definition of marriage were changed too much to include same-sex union, the tradition of marriage would be changed. However, there are many people who want alternatives to traditional marriage or want marriage to more than two people. Bennett asks how we can consider these people if we are changing the rules for same-sex couples. It is difficult to say what the right answer is. Marriage also means to decide your best partner. Everyone desires a beautiful life with a partner, but most marriage is not as the ideal as we think. He mentions that many supporters of same-sex couples do not share this ideal (Bennett p.30). Another different opinion from proponents to opponents of same-sex marriage is “the very heart of marriage itself” (Bennett p.30). Marriage tradionally is that of a man and a woman who love, respect, and help each other. Olson says the marriage case is about “rights and happiness and equal treatment” that is what people have learned in this society. The definition cannot be changed easily by anyone. In addition, this thought has been taught for a long time in history. Therefore, we should
The topic of homosexual marriages, or the marrying of two people of the same sex, is rather disputed among the majority of people in today’s society. Only small amounts of the population have opinions that are strongly favoring one side of the debate. For most of society who are the middle-of-the-road citizens, it is a tough call to make one way or the other. The main topics that are disputed are raising children in a same-sex household, the capacity of churches to allow such a marriage, and the integrity of a marriage as a legal document. These arguments will be expressed through the viewpoints of Andrew Sullivan and William Bennett. Sullivan is the author of the essay “Let Gays Marry” which was printed by Newsweek in June of 1996.
The decline of marriage in the West has been extensively researched over the last three decades (Carmichael and Whittaker; de Vaus; Coontz; Beck-Gernshein). Indeed, it was fears that the institution would be further eroded by the legalisation of same sex unions internationally that provided the impetus for the Australian government to amend the Marriage Act (1961). These amendments in 2004 sought to strengthen marriage by explicitly defining, for the first time, marriage as a legal partnership between one man and one woman. The subsequent heated debates over the discriminatory nature of this definition have been illuminating, particularly in the way they have highlighted the ongoing social significance of marriage, even at a
The institutional barriers to legally recognizing same-sex marriage engender a sense of injustice and an unethical violation of a Universal Human Right. While author Card does identify these fallacies and states that the law should not determine which adult unions are legitimate, she posits an unsettling alternative. Suggesting that same-sex marriage should not have been a political issue and proposing the abolition of marriage denies the LGBT community social recognition and an equal opportunity to choose.
Marriage in modern Western society is typically understood as a heterosexual union between a man and a woman. To dispel the common myth that marriage has remained a stable heterosexual union and that homosexuality has always been forbidden, Weeks uses examples of various forms of institutionalized unions between same-sex couples. These same-sex unions took place in the early Christian church and continue to take place in other cultures (Weeks 2010:20). When analyzing these unions it is important to take into consideration that modern Western understandings of homosexuality cannot be applied to these marriage patterns, because the actors involved do not evaluate their behaviors in the same way as contemporary Westerners. The example of marriage shows that there is a large amount of variability in all sexual practices, even those we commonly think of as traditional and enduring
One of the most controversial issues around today is gay marriages. Many believe that the media is primly responsible for the idea of same-sex marriages, but when it all comes down to it there are really only two sides; those who support gay marriages, and those who oppose them. Two authors write their opinions on their opposite views on this issue. Sullivan (2002) supports same-sex marriages and believes marriage to be a universal right, not just restricted to heterosexuals. Contrary to Sullivan, Bennett (2002) believes that marriage is a sacred traditional family value that should be set aside for heterosexual couples. (2002)Throughout this essay, I will summarize both authors’ ideas and evaluate them through their evidence and
This essay attempts to analyze the idea of gay marriage and how this type of union can be seen or not as an illustration of social diversity, which can tend to the elimination of negative stereotypes to a point that they become irrelevant.
Gay marriage is a topic that is heavily debated in this day and age. Whether or not it should be legal for homosexuals to get married is a theme that authors Andrew Sullivan, who wrote “For Gay Marriage” and William J. Bennett, who wrote “Against Gay Marriage” use in there articles. The main points the authors both discus is the meaning of marriage itself, the social impact same sex marriage will have on society, and the influence on children and teens. Although, the authors have similar themes disused in their topics, there are more differences in how they view same sex marriage.
However, with the ‘against’ position, marriage has been justified as a religious and legal commitment between man and woman, through the expression of love as therefore gay marriage should not be legalised. In relation to gay marriage, within Edwards’s article, the National Marriage Coalition put forward a strong point, “that marriage is beautiful and sacred; it is the ultimate expression of a loving commitment between a man and a
The late 20th century disintegration of marriage is epoch-defining and hazardous to moral health. The question of legally recognizing same-sex marriage - thrust upon us by recent court decisions - culminates this disintegration.
Gay marriages have been an ongoing event in the United States for many years. It was not until June 26, 2015 when gay marriage was legalized for all states with a five to four ratio. With gay marriage being legalized, there became many controversies in the nation. The most recent controversy was when a Kentucky county clerk was jailed after defying a federal court order to issue marriage licenses to a same-sex couple. She did not issue because she did not believe that homosexuality should be accepted in society. Many people agreed to the act but others opposed. There are many ways to look at homosexuality and here are three different sociological perspectives of how gay marriage is recognized. The perspectives are structural functionalism, symbolic interactionism, and conflict theory.