← Unit 4: Marriage, Family and Kinship
1. Definition of Marriage
DefinitionMarriage is a socially sanctioned union regulating sexual access, reproduction, and kinship, and is one of the most universal institutions of human society.
Classical Definitions
| Thinker | Definition | Key Emphasis |
|---|---|---|
| George Peter Murdock | Marriage involves economic cooperation, sexual union, and child-rearing | Multi-functional nature across cultures |
| Edmund Leach | Marriage is a bundle of rights — sexual, economic, social, and rights over children | Radical view: marriage is about social legitimacy, not just sexual access |
| Bronislaw Malinowski | Marriage ensures legitimacy of offspring | Reproductive and social order function |
Indian Thinker Perspective
"Hindu marriage is a sacrament rooted in dharma, not a contract. It is a religious bond that cannot be dissolved at will. The wife is not merely a partner in pleasures but a co-participant in religious duties (sahadharmini)." - K. M. Kapadia
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Free. All OPSC Sociology Paper I and Paper II notes, with mains PYQs.
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In these notes
- Definition of Marriage
- Traditional Features of Marriage in India
- Changing Trends in Marriage — Part 1
- Changing Trends in Marriage — Part 2
- Changing Trends in Marriage — Part 3
- Critical Analysis of Changing Trends
- Sociological Perspectives on Change
- Continuity Amid Change
- Emerging New Patterns
- Problems and Contradictions
- Future of Marriage in India
- Conclusion — Marriage in India: Changing Trends and Future
- Key Theoretical Keywords
- Data Summary Table — Marriage in India
- Sample Exam Answer Framework