I don't believe that a couple has to be married to be a family. Many couples do not value marriage or see it as something that is right for them. Therefore, there are many couples who co-habit and in every other way, behave like a 'married couple', without ever actually being married. I think that a 'family' is defined by the roles it plays, not by it's legality.
It is very hard to be able to 'class' a family however I do not believe that marriage is one factor to class it on. You cannot say just because two people who love each other dearly and have socialised their children in the best possible way are not a family as their love is not written down on a piece of paper. Likewise, you cannot say that a couple who have no love or respect for each other and have raised monstrosities of children are a 'family' as they are legally married. Families are not able marriage, they are about the bond that a group of people who love each other share.
Personally I don't think it is of great importance that the couple are married; if they co-habit and have children together, then they can still be classed as a family as it may simply be their mutual choice to remain unmarried. I agree with Daisy that marriage is not the only factor to class a family, and their are much more important things such as providing each other with emotional support and ensuring socialisation takes place within family structure. Also, a couple with no children may also be classed as a family because they can still carry out most of the functions of the family without the reproduction of children, for example, with same sex couples. This could still be classed as a family unit even though there are no children involved.
Many of you seem to agree that marriage is not vital. If that is the case, why do you think so much importance is placed on it. For many centuries it was the "root" of marriage. Gay people are fighting for the "right" to marry all over the world. Why is this the case if it is not of great importance?
I think there are 'successful' families that aren't married and nowadays it's a norm to not be married whereas in years gone by it was looked down upon. I just think that it's not so much of a big deal to be married now as society changed in recent yea
Marriage is looked at in different ways and people have different opinions on it. Gay people fight for marriage so it's another equality and maybe more gay couples want to marry to show that their relationship is a serious commitment and not a 'phase' as some people would criticise. Also, because gay couples can't have children naturally, maybe it means more to them than other couples.
i do not neccessarily think a couple need to be married to be classed as a family as some people think marriage is not a vital factor in a relationship. some gay people want to get married so that it is seen as serious by outsiders who may criticise gay marriage. also, as amber said 'as gay couples cannot have children naturally, it means more to them'.
I personally think it's a child(or children) that makes a couple/married couple a family, as opposed to just the institution of marriage.
ReplyDeleteI don't believe that a couple has to be married to be a family. Many couples do not value marriage or see it as something that is right for them. Therefore, there are many couples who co-habit and in every other way, behave like a 'married couple', without ever actually being married. I think that a 'family' is defined by the roles it plays, not by it's legality.
ReplyDeleteIt is very hard to be able to 'class' a family however I do not believe that marriage is one factor to class it on. You cannot say just because two people who love each other dearly and have socialised their children in the best possible way are not a family as their love is not written down on a piece of paper. Likewise, you cannot say that a couple who have no love or respect for each other and have raised monstrosities of children are a 'family' as they are legally married. Families are not able marriage, they are about the bond that a group of people who love each other share.
ReplyDeleteSo would you guys class a couple who live together with no children and not married a family?
ReplyDeletePersonally I don't think it is of great importance that the couple are married; if they co-habit and have children together, then they can still be classed as a family as it may simply be their mutual choice to remain unmarried. I agree with Daisy that marriage is not the only factor to class a family, and their are much more important things such as providing each other with emotional support and ensuring socialisation takes place within family structure. Also, a couple with no children may also be classed as a family because they can still carry out most of the functions of the family without the reproduction of children, for example, with same sex couples. This could still be classed as a family unit even though there are no children involved.
ReplyDeleteMany of you seem to agree that marriage is not vital. If that is the case, why do you think so much importance is placed on it. For many centuries it was the "root" of marriage. Gay people are fighting for the "right" to marry all over the world. Why is this the case if it is not of great importance?
ReplyDeleteI think there are 'successful' families that aren't married and nowadays it's a norm to not be married whereas in years gone by it was looked down upon. I just think that it's not so much of a big deal to be married now as society changed in recent yea
ReplyDeleteMarriage is looked at in different ways and people have different opinions on it. Gay people fight for marriage so it's another equality and maybe more gay couples want to marry to show that their relationship is a serious commitment and not a 'phase' as some people would criticise. Also, because gay couples can't have children naturally, maybe it means more to them than other couples.
ReplyDeletei do not neccessarily think a couple need to be married to be classed as a family as some people think marriage is not a vital factor in a relationship. some gay people want to get married so that it is seen as serious by outsiders who may criticise gay marriage. also, as amber said 'as gay couples cannot have children naturally, it means more to them'.
ReplyDelete