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Functions of Marriage: Everything You Should Know For UPSC Exam!

Last Updated on Apr 22, 2025
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Marriage fulfils various important roles in society and individuals' lives. The different functions of marriage help meet the needs of individuals as well as contribute to the stability of society.

Study about functions of marriage in this article for UPSC CSE Exam aspirants. Join the UPSC coaching today at testbook.

What is Marriage?

Marriage is a legally or formally recognized union of two individuals as partners in a personal relationship. It involves a long-term commitment between individuals who choose to share their lives with each other. Marriage creates a strong bond between two persons that may fulfil various needs in life. 

Read Here Consanguinity and Affinity: Exploring The Family Relationships!

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Types of Marriage In Sociology

There are different types of marriages based on the number of spouses and customs. Marriage fulfils various functions by allowing people to form families and raise children together. However, the form of marriage varies in different cultures. Let's examine some types:

Monogamy

In monogamous marriages, a person has only one spouse at a time. This is the most common type practised widely across the world. Monogamy allows the couple to focus on each other and spend time together. It helps form an emotional bond between two individuals based on intimacy and trust.

Polygamy

Polygamous marriages have more than two spouses. In polygyny, a man has multiple wives at the same time. Polyandry refers to a woman having more than one husband. Historically polygamy fulfilled functions like increasing offspring, sharing economic responsibility and adhering to religious beliefs. However, it is now illegal in many countries due to issues of gender equality and child welfare.

Group marriage

In a group marriage, more than two persons are married to each other as a group. All members share an emotional and sexual relationship with each other. Group marriages aim to maximize joint resources and minimize domestic work. However, jealousy and favouritism can disrupt such relationships. Group marriages also face legal restrictions in many countries.

Monogamy is considered the ideal type of marriage today to fulfil functions like stability, intimacy and proper care of children. However, polygamous and group marriages still exist in some communities and cultures. The number of spouses permitted depends on socio-economic factors, religion, law and tradition of a particular society.

The key functions of any marriage remain the same - establishing a family, bearing and raising children and meeting the emotional needs of the couple. But the form of marriage differs based on the number of acceptable spouses. With time, the types of marriages are also evolving due to changing social attitudes and laws. Legal monogamous marriages provide a stable and equal environment for partners to have a long-term committed relationship.

In conclusion, how marriage is practised depends on cultural and legal norms in a society. But marriage essentially forms the basic building block of a family that aims to fulfil functions like companionship, intimacy and child welfare for the couple.

Read Here Exploring Different Types of Religious Practices For UPSC CSE!

Functions of Marriage In Sociology

Marriage plays a very important role in our society. It has different functions that help individuals and society. Let us discuss some key functions of marriage.

  • The most fundamental function of marriage is that it forms a lifelong bond between a man and a woman. They come together to share their lives and become companions. They can support and care for each other through thick and thin.
  • Marriage provides love, companionship and emotional support to individuals. The spouse becomes the closest companion who fulfils one's emotional needs of love, care and affection. They share each other's joys and sorrows in life.
  • Marriage helps form a legal family unit which is the basic unit of society. A family provides a healthy environment for raising children and forms the next generation. The children learn values, culture and morals within a family.
  • Another important function of marriage is procreation. Legally married couples can have children with responsibility. Children inherit family names, values and wealth from their parents. This helps maintain family lineage.
  • Partners in marriage provide economic help and support to each other. They pool their resources and income to fulfil family needs. The combined income of partners helps improve their standard of living.
  • Marriage contributes to the stability of society. Stable families produce children with good values, which leads to social stability and order. It decreases anti-social and destructive activities in society.
  • Marriage provides a platform for partners to divide responsibilities between them. They can specialize in different tasks based on their skills, wishes and needs. This helps them utilize their time efficiently.
  • In marriage, partners can satisfy each other's sexual needs in a lawful way. They get physical and emotional intimacy which is necessary for a healthy relationship. 
  • The Functions of Marriage allow partners to support each other through happiness and difficulties in life. They can share each other's joys during success and comfort each other during failures, losses and illness.
  • Thus marriage fulfils many important needs of individuals as well as society. The role of the family in promoting social values and welfare cannot be underestimated. Hence marriage continues to remain relevant for human well-being. In future, too, the basic functions of marriage are likely to remain the same though the form of marriage may change over time.

Also Read Biological and Cultural Factors in Human Evolution: UPSC Notes!

Marriage Laws in India

India has various laws that govern different aspects of marriage to enable it to fulfil its important functions in society. These laws ensure that marriage is conducted in a legitimate manner and helps strengthen the institution. Let us understand the key marriage laws in India.

Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006

This law prohibits the solemnization of child marriages in India where either bride or groom is below legal age, 18 years for women and 21 years for men. The Act aims to stop child marriage to protect children's rights and enable their proper development.

Special Marriage Act, 1954

This Act provides a common law for all Indian citizens belonging to different religions to get married. The couple has to give notice 60 days before their marriage to the Marriage Officer under this Act. This Act allows couples of different faiths also to fulfil the functions of marriage.

Hindu Marriage Act, 1955

This Act governs marriages between Hindus, Buddhists, Jains and Sikhs in India. It prohibits bigamy except in some situations. The Act governs aspects like divorce, alimony, custody of children, the marriage of minors etc., to ensure the Functions of Marriage are fulfilled properly.

Muslim Personal Law

This law deals with marriage, divorce, inheritance, succession, wills etc., for Muslims in India. Polygyny is allowed under Islamic law though procedures exist to solemnize such marriages. The Muslim law aims to make marriage, divorce and succession easy for Muslims.

Indian Christian Marriage Act, 1872

This Act applies to marriages between Christians in India. It ensures that Christian couples follow proper procedures while marrying or separating. The law prohibits marriages within prohibited degrees of relationships to avoid social evils.

The Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961

This Act prohibits giving or taking of dowry during marriage. It considers both the giving and receiving of dowry as illegal. The aim of the Act is to stop the social evil of dowry that violates women's dignity.

The prohibition and increased punishment for giving or taking dowry help ensure marriages fulfil their functions based on love and mutual respect between partners.

These Indian marriage laws aim to uphold the values, rights and dignity of individuals within the institution of marriage. The laws make efforts to stop social evils like child marriage and dowry that distort the real functions of marriage. The evolving nature of marriage in India is also reflected in these laws that try to balance tradition with changing social norms. However, stricter implementation of these laws is required to make Indian marriages more progressive and egalitarian.

Also Read Social Cultural Anthropology - Branches, Methods, & Future Trends!

Conclusion

Overall, the various marriage laws in India seek to regulate the institution of marriage in a way that is able to fulfil important social and personal functions properly. The laws ensure that married couples and their children are protected, and relationships are built on mutual trust, commitment and equality. Further reforms in these laws will help strengthen families and promote social harmony in India.

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Functions of Marriage FAQs

Marriage contributes to society by producing responsible citizens through children, promoting social stability through families, dividing work responsibilities, and sanctioning sexual relations in a legitimate way.

The main benefits of marriage are companionship, economic security, emotional support, legal protection, intimacy and social approval to have a family.

Marriage solves problems of loneliness, financial insecurity, and irregular sexual relations. It provides stability through commitment between partners, which reduces the chances of anti-social behaviour.

Marriage fulfils social, emotional, economic, and biological functions. It forms a legal family unit, provides companionship and intimacy, meets economic needs through sharing resources, and enables childbearing and raising children.

The primary purpose of marriage is to form a strong bond between two individuals based on intimacy, love and commitment. It allows them to build a life together and support each other.
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