Class 12 English Marriage as a Social Institution Summary
In this essay 'Marriage as a Social Institution', the author Stephen L. Nock examines the national marriage debate by reviewing the social and demographic trends that have changed the role of marriage and the family.
He views that marriage and parenthood are private matters, relevant only to the individuals directly involved.
He points out the programs that have strengthened marital relationships, lowered divorce rates, reduced out-of-wedlock births, and encouraged responsible fatherhood.
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Marriage as a Social Institution Summary
In his essay, "Marriage as a Social Institution," Stephen L. Nock talks about why marriage is important. He says it's not just a promise between two people but like a special club with rules.
Marriage is different from just being friends or living together. It has clear rules that help couples stay happy. These rules are like a guide for how to live together and make good choices.
Nock explains that marriage provides a structure to people's lives. It helps control their desires and ambitions, making sure they focus on what's important. This idea is not new; it goes back to a thinker named Emile Durkheim, who said marriage protects people from uncontrollable feelings.
The essay also mentions how some people choose not to get married. Instead, they live together without these rules. Nock highlights that married people have clear expectations and commitments enforced by laws, religion, and customs.
Nock introduces the idea of marriage as a type of "capital," like a valuable resource. Through marriage, people connect to others with shared responsibilities. This connection is important for support and exchanging useful information.
The essay talks about normative marriage, which means following the usual rules. These rules include choosing to marry, having specific roles, being faithful, and becoming parents. Nock says these rules help control behaviors and make sure everyone is happy.
In summary, Nock's essay helps us understand that marriage is like a special club with important rules. These rules guide couples, provide support, and make sure everyone is on the same page for a happy life together.
Marriage as a Social Institution Class 12 Exercise and Question Answer
Understanding the text
Answer the following questions.
According to the author, what is marriage? |
Marriage is like a special club where two people make promises to each other. It's not just about love; it also has rules that help people live happily together. |
How is marriage an institution? |
Marriage is like a big, important group with rules. These rules guide how couples should behave, almost like playing a game with important guidelines for a happy life. |
What are the rules that a marriage has? |
In marriage, people promise to take care of each other, be a team, and follow certain expectations. These promises are important and have support from laws, religion, and traditions. |
Why does marriage matter to men? |
Marriage gives structure to men's lives, helping them organize their goals. It's like a helpful tool that stops uncontrollable feelings and focuses on what's important, just like a superhero's shield. |
What is one of the central problems in modern society? |
In modern times, a big problem is figuring out how to control our wants and desires. Marriage helps solve this problem by giving us rules and boundaries to follow. |
What does social capital consist of? |
Social capital is like a big network of people connected by trust and responsibilities. Through marriage, people join this network, sharing important information and helping each other when needed. |
What is normative marriage? Explain. |
Normative marriage means following the usual rules of marriage. This includes choosing to get married, having specific roles, being faithful, and becoming parents. These rules help everyone in the marriage be happy and work together. |
Reference to the context
Discuss six dimensions that define normative marriage in America. |
In America, normative marriage means six important things. First, it's a choice made by grown-ups who want to be married. Second, husbands usually earn money for the family. Third, both people in marriage promise to be faithful to each other. Fourth, they decide to have children. Fifth, they follow rules about how to behave as married people. Finally, they become a family, and everyone expects them to stay together and be happy. These six things make normative marriage in America special and different. |
Do marriages differ according to culture? How is your marriage practice different from marriage in America? |
Yes, marriages can be different in other places. For example, in America, people may have big weddings, but in our culture, weddings might be smaller. In America, husbands often earn money, but in some places, wives might earn money too. People might have different rules about how to behave when married. Some places may not expect couples to have children. So, even though we all love each other, how we get married and what we do in marriage can be a little different in different cultures. |