Marriage

I've been lazy posting lately. Essays have been driving me crazy! Actually i could post about anything but i am not that good in telling people about my daily life.

I never quite understand why marriage for some is important in countries where de facto relationship is widely acknowledged. In Australia, for instance, you can have long-term relationship even have children together without sacrament of marriage. Society does not have any problem with it. Even though you get knocked up then decide to carry on without getting married, there is no way people will think that you are committed to adultery. In this sense, marriage is a matter of choice.

If marriage means to have recognition from the state, in Australia social security does not discriminate the status of the couples, unless they are gay (they are pretty strict about gay which is pretty lame). You are still entitled to have family benefit from the government. I've checked Australian Family Law Act 1975 (I know this is crazy. I should not be doing a lot of research for blog posting) and found that de facto relationship is covered in the act and is treated as equally as solemnised marriage. So if society accepts it and law protects the de facto relationship, why do people want to get married?


In contrast, marriage in Indonesia or other countries where religious values and practices are common, is considered sacred. Wedding certificate is a sort of licence through which society and state recognise the status of relationship. Without it, more likely that you are likened to prostitutes. This is because pre-marital sex is perceived as cardinal sin. As marriage in countries where religious values are stronger and pre-marital sex is proscribed, then marriage seems to be a way of having a licence to shag. Underlying the sacredness of marriage is the Christian concept that sex has to be procreative, meaning that it ought to be carrying out message from God to continue life. Divorce is acceptable only by death or special circumstances. Only did church domination begin to diminish, state took responsible of dealing with marital matter.

Marriage also means to connect two families together from both side. This implies that marriage functions as social institution. And family is the smallest unit of organisation within society.

That's not fair is it? If Adam didn't get married. The snake successfully prevailed upon him to eat the apple which resulted in the first intercourse in this planet (i am not sure whether it was a good sex or not as i can't get historical record from both parties. I would, however, be very grateful if someone can share information with me about this).

So what do people want from marriage in countries like Australia, USA or England? I don't know. They don't need a licence to shag as pre-marital sex is not an issue. Perpetuating tradition could be the reason. Another possible explanation will be the image of marriage itself. People feel that long-lasting relationship is ideal and should therefore be celebrated. In popular culture, the notion of marriage as a symbol of ideal relationship can be easily found. For instance, Cinderella, Snow White, and Sleeping Beauty are telling about this ideal.