Marriage, Relationships and Society

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses two articles that both deal with the interrelationships between domestic relationships and the broader society: :"Marriage: Then and Now" by Stephanie Coontz and "Family Responsibilities: The Politics of Love and Care" by Meg Luxton. The paper explains that Coontz supplies the reader with an interesting account of the history of marriage, showing how it has changed according to dominant social and historical trends. The paper then points out that Luxton shows how neoliberal capitalist policies have impacted family relationships and that the assumption that families must be self-reliant, and independent of the capitalist economy, dates back to 18th century liberalism. The writer concludes that both of these articles are written from a starting point of love and caring and both have an underlying agenda of promoting the greatest possible amount of individual and family happiness within the realities of our current society. The writer also believes that both articles provide useful insights into social realities, and constructive suggestions that can increase the happiness of many relationships.

From the Paper:

"The underlying assumption of Coontz's article is that marriage is one of the many mechanisms of our society - it will thus change according to various social demands made on it. She does not appear to see any malevolent forces at work in this - marriage is simply an inanimate institution whose functions grow or contract depending on the pressures brought to bear on it. By contrast, Luxton's article does seem to pinpoint some malevolent forces at work. She blames what she calls the neoliberal agenda for the reduced role that the state is playing in fulfilling social responsibilities. Thanks to neoliberalism. She believes that the well-being of families has become subordinate to the well-being of business."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Coontz, Stephanie. (2004). Marriage: Then and Now. Rethinking Society in the 21st Century: Critical Readings in Sociology. Eds. Michelle Webber and Kate Bezanson. Toronto: Canadian Scholar's Press Inc.
• Luxton, Meg. (2001). Family Responsibilities: The Politics of Love and Care. Rethinking Society in the 21st Century: Critical Readings in Sociology. Eds. Michelle Webber and Kate Bezanson. Toronto: Canadian Scholar's Press Inc.

More papers on Marriage, Relationships and Society:

• Term Paper # 118812 : "Relationships and Society"
• Term Paper # 98042 : "Marriage and Long-Standing Relationships"
• Persuasive Essay # 59260 : "Gay and Lesbian Marriage"

APA Citation:

MLA Citation: