Running Head:
Marriage 1
Differences in Marriage Practices Abroad
David Christian Toepfer
ANT 101
PROFESSOR NAME REMOVED BY AUTHOR
September 30th 2013
Running Head:
Marriage
2
Although
marriage worldwide has many of the same principles in mind, everyone has their
own specific and unique way of which marriage customs are carried out. In this
text I will expand upon the differences and similarities between the Yemen,
Israeli, and American marriage customs. Although these three different cultures
share many differences, they as well share many similarities in the way marriage
customs are carried out.
In the early days well before the
United States of America was established Yemenites practiced arranged marriages
and divorce customs established and enforced by the control of the Talmud and
the Maimonids. These Yemenites had been neglectfully left for themselves by the
Jewish communities. Within these customs practices such as arranged marriages,
arranged marriages of minors; and as well divorce against the wives’ approval
were carried out. There was a great deal of economic stimuli involved in these
customs, as arranged marriages were said to be for the benefit of the female’s
financial future.
It was
also utilized to provide a good structure for family and a good environment to
raise children in. This is similar to that of American cultures adaptation of
the structural foundation of marriage in reference to good foundation for
raising a family. Females who were considered to be orphans underwent the same
processes but for a different reason; which was to ensure that they would not
have to be submitted to the conversion to Islam. In Yemen, the age that a child
is no longer considered a minor and may enter into the union of marriage is 12
½ much, much, lower than here in the states.
Running
Head: Marriage 3
It
is not commonplace as it is here in America to see couples arguing in raging
shouting match’s using harsh language towards one another in acts of aggression
in Yemen. The women there are dedicated to the husband and to providing the
best home and support at home possible for that of their husband and children
alike. The husband in the Yemen culture is highly devoted to providing for his
family as best as he can. This can be associated with how the traditional
American family was structured and still is for the vast majority of America’s
families today.
“Since
1953 the only marriages recognized by the Jewish state are Orthodox Jewish
marriages and civil marriages performed outside of Israel” (Dadoo, 2004, p. #).
Israel does not recognize anything other than described above as a marriage
custom that is regarded as a legal union, but rather ones of only interfaith
and religion with no legal dexterity what so ever. In other terms, if you
desired and planned to marry someone and form a legal union between the two of
you, they must be an Israelite as well and you must adhere to the Orthodox
Jewish customs or conduct a civil marriage outside of Israel.
A civil
marriage would require a lawyer to draw up a marriage contract so that your
marriage would be legally binding. Marriage laws in Israel both historically
and currently have left many people unhappy and without hope in reference to
marriage. In America we have quite the opposite as far as legal customs when in
regards to marriage. For instance; in the United States if someone that is not
a citizen of this country is legally bound into a marriage contract with
someone of this country they then become a citizen of the United States of
America. Far different from Israeli law.
Running Head: Marriage 4
Israeli
customs make it very difficult for persons of the country that wish to marry
outside of social normality for many reasons. One such reason is the fact that
if you choose to marry someone that is not an Israeli than you must adhere to
moving your life to an occupied territory outside of Israel or making the
choice of living apart from your spouse. International human rights groups have
stepped in and declared that these actions and laws predudice.
People
that are against these marriage customs convey that they truly believe that
these laws are set it place to preserve Jewish identity. This is a completely
plausible explanation for such actions, but far from right in any sense. In
America we are free to marry interracially with no problems what so ever as far
as mainstream society and laws deem anyways. There is still of course the
underground prejudice that exists in every society. These types of prejudice
take many forms, some miniscule and some of a radical nature.
The
Jewish population has risen drastically from the 70’s into the 90’s this hold
weight in the evidence department in reference to the beliefs of those opposed
to these customs. America is very diverse and we are built on and proud of our
great diversities and many cultures. The population of Israel is still growing
due largely in part to the migration of large numbers of individuals from the
Soviet Union, Eastern Europe, and South America.
Running Head: Marriage 5
The
Jewish Orthodox Community may be small but still enforces the rules of marriage
law throughout Israel. This in correlation with the amount of growth Israel has
seen together provides a very difficult situation for the people of Israel. The
termination of marriage or “divorce” in Israeli customs is much like that of
the United States. There are only two ways to exit a legally binding marriage,
which are either death or divorce.
Although
arranged marriages were never quite the social norm in America, people of poor
economic backgrounds have practiced similar customs in order to assure
financial stability in a child’s future; primarily a younger girl with an older
man. In America we have many freedoms in reference to marriage and lifestyle choices
in contrast to countries such as Israel and Yemen and many other Middle Eastern
regions.
In
America we have always had the right to be legally bound in the union of
marriage, but until recent years this was a union said to be for that only of a
man and a women. The United States is truly revolutionary in terms of change
and evolution of ideas and practices. It is now socially acceptable in the vast
majority of the country, and legal in many places within the U.S. to partake in
same sex marriage customs that are legally binding. The act and role of
marriage throughout the world and throughout history has had the same
structural backbone, and that is to promote a good structure for the rearing of
children and the creation of new families with strong moral ground. Countries
such as Yemen and Israel have always been far different from the New
Running Head:
Marriage 6
World or as we know it America. These
countries are many thousands of years older than ours, our country is but a
baby in terminology of countries by age internationally.
The act of marriage has been a constant
process of evolution. Bonding between man and women began far back into the
Stone Age and was considered a way of organizing and controlling sexual
practices and to form a good structure for the rearing of children. Marriage
for the most part of humanity has always existed and been an important societal
role.
As with the evolution of mankind and our
technologies, the evolution of ideas and practices, beliefs and morals have
brought us to new places in the many societies that make up our planet. We have
come a long way but have much farther to go. We are slowly making progress in
the direction of nationwide support both legally and those with bias opinions
on the subject of same sex marriages here in America. Other countries such as
the ones depicted in this text seem to be “stuck in their ways” so to speak, and
it is truly a travesty that all humans cannot openly without ridicule choose to
be with whom they feel makes a good match.
Running Head:
Marriage 7
References
Nashim, J. (2006)
Journal of Jewish Women’s Studies and Gender Issues. Marriage and Divorce Customs in Yemen
and Eretz Israel. Spring; 11: 43-83.
Retreived from http://web.ebscohost.com.proxy-library.ashford.com
Dadoo, S. (2004)
The Washington Report of Middle Eastern Affairs. Love and Marriage in Israel:
Palestinian and Non-Orthodox Need Not Apply. Vol. 23, No. 1 pp. 18-19 Retrieved
from http://search.proquest.com.proxy-library.ashford.edu
Huston, T. (2000)
Journal of Marriage and Family. The Social Ecology of Marriage and Other
Intimate Unions. Vol. 62, No. 2 pp.298-320 Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/1566741
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