http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criticisms … f_marriage
The remnants of older, arguably antiquated, ideas can be found in today's wedding ceremonies and traditional practices. For example, women may be symbolically "given away" by their fathers. Some brides vow to "love and obey" their husbands and some grooms vow to "care for" their wives. A groom might remove his bride's garter, a symbol of her virginity, as a public representation of his claim on her sexuality.
I dislike many of the traditions that go back to an idea of the girl as simple breeding stock. For example, the concept of "giving away" the bride. Back in ancient times, the woman's new husband was seen as a 'guardian', replacing her father, and with the ability to cut off all her ties with her family. Our society refuses to grow up - why don't we wash off the thousand year old stain from our shirts, and let go of archaic little traditions?
Until either the late 1800s or early 1900s in America, a woman who was married could not own property, and her husband had the legal right to be able to hit her if she was 'out of line'. Today men and women in America are almost nearly equal in a legal sense, yet society has a different view. There are men who think their wives are property, and there are communities who think in the 1800s. Conservatives want to re-instate all this bullcrap. Sure, many people ditch all the traditions, but this is a critique of those traditions.
I'll probably write a longer blog with more profanity, but generally I wanted to express my opinion of this whole subject. Feel free to share. This isn't about the choice to do these, it's about the traditions themselves. Also - maybe someone can give me a GOOD reason why marriage is important and can't be substituted for a couple just being together.
The remnants of older, arguably antiquated, ideas can be found in today's wedding ceremonies and traditional practices. For example, women may be symbolically "given away" by their fathers. Some brides vow to "love and obey" their husbands and some grooms vow to "care for" their wives. A groom might remove his bride's garter, a symbol of her virginity, as a public representation of his claim on her sexuality.
I dislike many of the traditions that go back to an idea of the girl as simple breeding stock. For example, the concept of "giving away" the bride. Back in ancient times, the woman's new husband was seen as a 'guardian', replacing her father, and with the ability to cut off all her ties with her family. Our society refuses to grow up - why don't we wash off the thousand year old stain from our shirts, and let go of archaic little traditions?
Until either the late 1800s or early 1900s in America, a woman who was married could not own property, and her husband had the legal right to be able to hit her if she was 'out of line'. Today men and women in America are almost nearly equal in a legal sense, yet society has a different view. There are men who think their wives are property, and there are communities who think in the 1800s. Conservatives want to re-instate all this bullcrap. Sure, many people ditch all the traditions, but this is a critique of those traditions.
I'll probably write a longer blog with more profanity, but generally I wanted to express my opinion of this whole subject. Feel free to share. This isn't about the choice to do these, it's about the traditions themselves. Also - maybe someone can give me a GOOD reason why marriage is important and can't be substituted for a couple just being together.
Last edited by FallenMorgan (2008-04-10 14:20:52)
