[ **up: [[Relationships]]** ] # Marriage [[2024-0415. 'The institution of marriage is almost universal across human societies, and marriage norms generally proscribe the responsibilities of caring for children.'|'The institution of marriage is almost universal across human societies, and marriage norms generally proscribe the responsibilities of caring for children.']][^1] [[2024-0727. Societal ideals about 'romantic' love regulate not just our expectations about sex, but also our conceptions of family and the nature of parenthood.|Societal ideals about 'romantic' love regulate not just our expectations about sex, but also our conceptions of family and the nature of parenthood.]][^2] [[2024-0727. The expectation that marriages will involve a sexual element is still written into marriage law.|The expectation that marriages will involve a sexual element is still written into marriage law.]][^3] [[2024-0727. In the UK, a marriage can be annulled if it was not consummated.]][^4] [[2024-0727. Freedom to choose one's own relationships without fear, shame, or secrecy, is critical for society as a collective.|Freedom to choose one's own relationships without fear, shame, or secrecy, is critical for society as a collective.]][^5] --- ## Types of marriage ### Monogamy - [[Monogamy]] ### Non-monogamy - [[Non-monogamous relationships]] - [[Polygamy]] - [[Polyandry]] - [[Polygyny]] - [[Group marriage]] - [[Polyamory]] ### Shorter forms of marriage - [[Trial marriage]] - [[Handfasting (Celtic trial marriage)]] - [[Love contracts (Temporary marriage)]] --- ## Marriage by motivation - [[Exchange marriage]] - [[Marriage of convenience]] - [[Lavender marriage]] - [[Queerplatonic relationships]] - [[Romantic love]] --- ## Marriage by geography - *See:* [[Marriage--China]] --- ## Marriage payments [[2024-0726. Marriage-related wealth transfers are common in many societies, especially traditional farming and herding societies.|Marriage-related wealth transfers are common in many societies, especially traditional farming and herding societies.]][^6] ### Bridewealth [[Polygyny and pastoralism often coevolve with bridewealth (transfers from the groom or his family to the bride’s family).|Polygyny and pastoralism often coevolve with bridewealth (transfers from the groom or his family to the bride’s family).]][^7] ### Dowry [[2024-0415. Dowries are a form of female-biased property inheritance that tends to be practised in societies with land property and monogamy.|Dowries are a form of female-biased property inheritance that tends to be practised in societies with land property and monogamy.]][^8] --- ## Prenuptial Agreements [[2024-1019. 'There is no absolute bulletproof vest in marriage. The only way forward is for a couple to show mutual understanding and sincerity.'|'There is no absolute bulletproof vest in marriage. The only way forward is for a couple to show mutual understanding and sincerity.']][^9] --- - *See also:* [[Divorce]] --- ![[Provenance Online Project _ Woodcut illustration of the goddess Juno as patron of marriage _ CC0 1.0.jpg]] ‘Woodcut illustration of the goddess Juno as patron of marriage’, dated 1473, shared by POP \[Provenance Online Project]. ([CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/?ref=openverse)).[^10] [^1]: Juan Du and Ruth Mace, ‘[[Du & Mace. ‘Marriage Stability in a Pastoralist Society’, 2019.|Marriage Stability in a Pastoralist Society]]’, *Behavioural Ecology* 30, no. 6 (8 November 2019), p. 1. [^2]: Carrie Jenkins, ‘[[Jenkins. ‘How a hackneyed romantic ideal is used to stigmatise polyamory’, 2017.|How a hackneyed romantic ideal is used to stigmatise polyamory]], *Aeon*, 3 February 2017, [https://aeon.co/ideas/how-a-hackneyed-romantic-ideal-is-used-to-stigmatise-polyamory](https://aeon.co/ideas/how-a-hackneyed-romantic-ideal-is-used-to-stigmatise-polyamory). [^3]: Natasha McKeever and Luke Brunning, ‘[[McKeever & Brunning. ‘Being asexual’, 2019.|Being asexual]]’, *Aeon*, 19 November 2019, https://aeon.co/essays/what-being-asexual-or-aromantic-tells-us-about-sex-and-romance. [^4]: Natasha McKeever and Luke Brunning, ‘[[McKeever & Brunning. ‘Being asexual’, 2019.|Being asexual]]’, *Aeon*, 19 November 2019, https://aeon.co/essays/what-being-asexual-or-aromantic-tells-us-about-sex-and-romance. [^5]: Carrie Jenkins, ‘[[Jenkins. ‘How a hackneyed romantic ideal is used to stigmatise polyamory’, 2017.|How a hackneyed romantic ideal is used to stigmatise polyamory]], *Aeon*, 3 February 2017, [https://aeon.co/ideas/how-a-hackneyed-romantic-ideal-is-used-to-stigmatise-polyamory](https://aeon.co/ideas/how-a-hackneyed-romantic-ideal-is-used-to-stigmatise-polyamory). [^6]: Juan Du and Ruth Mace, ‘[[Du & Mace. ‘Marriage Stability in a Pastoralist Society’, 2019.|Marriage Stability in a Pastoralist Society]]’, *Behavioural Ecology* 30, no. 6 (8 November 2019), p. 1. [^7]: Juan Du and Ruth Mace, ‘[[Du & Mace. ‘Marriage Stability in a Pastoralist Society’, 2019.|Marriage Stability in a Pastoralist Society]]’, *Behavioural Ecology* 30, no. 6 (8 November 2019), p. 1. [^8]: Juan Du and Ruth Mace, ‘[[Du & Mace. ‘Marriage Stability in a Pastoralist Society’, 2019.|Marriage Stability in a Pastoralist Society]]’, *Behavioural Ecology* 30, no. 6 (8 November 2019), p. 1. [^9]: Zheng Yiwen, ‘Before Forever: The Rise of Prenuptial Agreements in China’, *The World of Chinese*, 10 April 2024, https://www.theworldofchinese.com/2024/04/before-forever-the-rise-of-prenuptial-agreements-in-china/. [^10]: ‘POP \[pseud], ‘Woodcut illustration of the goddess Juno as patron of marriage’ (dated 1473), *Flickr*, 14 January 2012, https://flic.kr/p/bcszcp. Licenced [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/?ref=openverse).