Marriage as a Social Institution : Summary and Exercises
Marriage as a Social Institution By -- Stephen L. Nock A. Essay in Points :-- 1. Marriage as a Social Institution Marriage should not only a union of a man and a woman living together. It is more than a personal relationship. Before starting to live together, they enter into marriage. Marriage is an institution because it is governed by legal, cultural, social norms. The married couples can't break the boundaries of such norms. All such legalities, cultural and social norms give the 'marriage- institution' a structure and provide it a stability. This point makes marriage different from other types of relationships, particularly from cohabitation. 2. Marriage and Cohabitation Marriage is not the only way that men and women live together. There are many other alternative ways to do so. One of them is cohabitation (or, living together). There are several differences between the two. Marriage is an institution, and it is socially, culturally and legally patter...