Revised Research Paper - Cross Cultural Marriages

docx

School

Liberty University *

*We aren’t endorsed by this school

Course

290

Subject

Sociology

Date

Feb 20, 2024

Type

docx

Pages

Uploaded by MateTeam5824

Cross-Cultural Marriage Cross-Cultural Marriage Shelley Bodovinac Liberty University Professor Linda Saunders GLST 290-D09 April 21, 2021

Cross-Cultural Marriage Table of Contents Abstract ………………………………………………………………… Page 2 Introduction ………………………………………………………………… Page 3 Struggles of Mixed Marriages ………………………………………………… Page 4 Mixed Race and Cultural Marriages………………………………………….. Page 5 Same Sex Marriages ………………………………………………… Page 6 Conclusion ………………………………………………………………… Page 7 Bibliography ………………………………………………………………… Page 8

Cross-Cultural Marriage Abstract The union and commitment of marriages has changed considerably throughout history and the duties of the husbands and wives has seen a change. In early 700 BC, marriages were arranged by parents and they believed that entering in marriages was not about being in love but acquiring the means of preserving power, with kings and other members of the ruling class and marrying their daughters to forge alliances, acquire land, and produce legitimate heirs. 1 By the 17 th and 18 th century, rather than marry out of respect for parents arrangements for wealth, the pursuit of happiness and love entered the equation and by the 19 th century, young men started selecting their brides and paying for the weddings regardless of parental approval 2 . “Challenges are alike to reconsider marriage, not merely as a private domestic act, but as a public institution which both structures and stabilizes the state”, Nancy Cott viewed marriages as a public vow between a husband and a wife 3 . In this paper I will show different studies of cross cultural marriages; whether it is, evaluating race, religion, arranged or marring for love. The evaluation of race is not the difference in color only, it is also marriages that intertwine cultures. Many would ask, “What is right” or Is that wrong?” With that said, who are we to judge? 1 Stephens, Rhiannon. "“Whether they Promised each Other some Thing is Difficult to Work Out”: The Complicated History of Marriage in Uganda." African Studies Review 59, no. 1 (2016): 127-153. 2 Stephens, Rhiannon. "“Whether they Promised each Other some Thing is Difficult to Work Out”: The Complicated History of Marriage in Uganda." African Studies Review 59, no. 1 (2016): 127-153. 3 Wood, Kirsten E. “Nancy F. Cott, Public Vows: A History of Marriage and the Nation, Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 2000. Pp. 297 2

Your preview ends here

Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version

Access to all documents
Unlimited textbook solutions
24/7 expert homework help

Cross-Cultural Marriage Introduction Watching your grandparents and seeing how much your parents are in love is every child’s fantasy. Listening to stories of your role models life seem effortless with amazing stories and dreaming one day you will find your happily ever after. As a young adult and embarking on your adventures, you will be encountering difficult obstacles that will continuously challenge you. In todays society, marriages are unique, tense and offensive; whereas, judgement of others may have a negative impact on what is the wedding you dreamed about since you were a young child. In the Bible, God teaches us to “ Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.” - Hebrew 13:4 . Judgement of others regarding the cultural differences between the man and the women with being racially guilty is how our society has turned the union of marriages into an obstacle. “After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands.” – Revelation 7:9 Factors that contribute to a satisfying and successful marriage is a continuous challenge that suggest looking at a range of perspective and creating a deeper understanding of this issue. Factors that maintain or increase love in romantic relationships, arranged marriages potentially a fertile area of study. In love marriages, people are usually strongly in love time of their marriage. In arranged marriages, the betrothed are not marrying for love but out of obligation to your family with the hope that love will emerges in this situation. 3

Cross-Cultural Marriage Struggles of a Mixed Marriage Mixed cultures have multiple struggles other than the way they look on the surface; therefore, the multiple differences leads into emotional distress. The different norms and values in their cultural upbringing, gender roles and core assumptions continue to be a struggle 4 . Another key challenge is the language; for instance, an American English speaking individual and a Japanese speaking individual. With the combination of cultures, beliefs and religion it proposes numerous question to the couple. The main questions was, “whose religion, language and values would be the?” Another obstacle is the cultural and social differences within the family and when we have children what would we reach them. Over decades of studies and research there has been multiple challenges mixed marriages had to overcome. For instance, The Law for the Protection of Blood and Honor was introduced in 1935 that banned intermarriage with Jews as well as new Jewish-Christian marriages and was ordered by the courts for a quick divorce 5 . Women that enter a mixed marriages has created themselves numerous questions when they decide to have children. With the male partner being dominant, does she has to give up her language, or her cultural beliefs and values? In todays society, having a child that can speak multiple languages is considered an asset and learning both cultures can be a rewarding for the child. Encouragement of family should be dominant and treasured but many question, how much does the couple have to give up and disregard their culture. 4 4 Koide, Teresa, Tomoko Yoshida, Erina Ogawa, Makiko Kuramoto, Jimena Emily Homma, and Miho Naruse. "Uncovering Inner Dilemmas Experienced by Parents of Multicultural Families in Japan." Journal of Comparative Family Studies 50, no. 3 (2019): 261- 284. 5 Kaplan, M. A. Between Dignity and Despair : Jewish Life in Nazi Germany / . New York :: Oxford University Press,, 1998: p 85-116

Cross-Cultural Marriage Mixed Racial and Cultural Marriages Encountering whispers, stares, and comments are what couples often experience, when in a mixed-race marriage. Interracial couples past and present have always felt the lingering eye of society, listening to others speaking ill and being called horrible names. Multicultural couples have additional factors they must deal with. Coping with cultural and linguistic differences can add challenging issues that run deep into one’s identity. As both parties adapt to each other’s culture to some degree, biculturalism may be achieved. Biculturalism in one’s understanding when interacting with people from different cultural but it sometimes leads to inner stress when trying to meet the expectations of one culture over the other 6 . Racial ecology refers to the racial context that has been taught is the social position of individuals such as race, social class, ethnicity and gender 7 . By promoting social position variables you are saying that racism of others is acceptable and being prejudice of the inter racial marriage or inter racial cultures is wrong. Discrimination, oppression and privilege often happens in segregation (residential, economic, social or psychological). World views and values of and individual and the host culture is can be incredibly insightful to see how two cultures intertwine. Unfortunately, there are individuals more narrow minded and they are known as dogmatic. Theses are individuals that stand firmly to their beliefs and that chooses to see difference as wrong or inferior which must be corrected. 5 6 Silva, L., Campbell, K., & Wright, D.W. (2012). Intercultural relationships: Entry, adjustment, and cultural negotiations. Journal of Comparative Family Studies, 43(6), 857–870. 7 Rollins & Hunter 2013

Your preview ends here

Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version

Access to all documents
Unlimited textbook solutions
24/7 expert homework help

Cross-Cultural Marriage There are some individuals that lacks “openness in communication because of rigid boundaries of belief or practice (D. Elmer, 2017) 8 .” Whether we believe the person of another culture is wrong or their beliefs lack your moral belief, judging them and look down on them is not what God has set forth for his children. Religion is a sacred and the biggest part of marriage and marrying in the church was the only acceptable practice in my life. For a lot of people they have tunnel vision and is only working on the wedding day and the person they fell in love with but once their special day is over they start recognizing differences. Differences in belief and their upbringing tend to bring up serious concerns. Religion differences can cause havoc on mix cultural marriages especially if each of them have strong connections to their faith and their religious community. There is nothing written that you are unable to marry outside your religion but the challenges come into play when the foods are different, beliefs are outside of your partners norm and when your are blessed with children. When I was blessed to meet my husband, we learned that we were both raised strict Roman Catholic and ironically our parents raised us very similar. We both were expected to marry a Catholic and live at home until we were married. I married my husband in 1997 and we have been blessed no skip the trials and tribulations that others were going through. I did not completely understand the obstacle until our cousin married a girl with a strong Lutheran upbringing. It was different reaction that the family had towards his fiancée and how our aunt and uncle acted or how their was a priest and a pastor marrying the young couple. 6 8 Duane Elmer (2017). (p. 70). Cross-Cultural Servanthood: Serving the World in Christlike Humility. Retrieved from https://app.wordsearchbible.lifeway.com

Cross-Cultural Marriage Conclusion Whether you Caucasian, African American, Asian, Middle Eastern or any other nationality, falling in love doesn’t know your race or ethnicity; therefore, know that you will be challenged and sometimes discriminated. Face illiterate people with kindness and empathy, handle ignorance with your head high and present yourself grace. The Bible tells us “ Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” – Ephesians 4:29. In todays society, there is some much judgement and criticism of others instead of supporting one another. “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? – Matthew 7 No matter of couple’s culture or religious preference, marriages are sacred and can present challenges for couples that practiced different religions or look different from one another; therefore, it does not matter as long as they work in unity and lean on one another for support. According to the Bible, God shows us that marriage is when a couple is in love and faithful to their partner and to God. 7

Cross-Cultural Marriage Bibliography Meghan Bergersen, Samara Klar, Elizabeth Schmitt, Intersectionality and Engagement among the LGBTQ+ Community, Journal of Women, Politics & Policy, 10.1080/1554477X.2018.1449527, 39 , 2, (196-219), (2018). Bleidorn, Wiebke, Ruben C. Arslan, Jaap J. Denissen, Jason Rentfrow, Jochen E. Gebauer, and Jeff Potter. “Age and Gender Differences in Self-Esteem—A Cross-Cultural Window,” 2017. https://doi.org/10.31219/osf.io/b65sa. Breger, Rosemary. “Love and the State: Women, Mixed Marriages and the Law in Germany.” Cross-Cultural Marriage , 2021, 129–52. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003136101-8. Gish Hill, Christina. “Peace Weavers: Uniting the Salish Coast THROUGH Cross-Cultural Marriages. By CANDACE WELLMAN.” Western Historical Quarterly 49, no. 2 (2018): 213–14. https://doi.org/10.1093/whq/why021 . Kaplan, M. A. Between Dignity and Despair : Jewish Life in Nazi Germany / . New York :: Oxford University Press,, 1998: 85-116 Koide, Teresa, Tomoko Yoshida, Erina Ogawa, Makiko Kuramoto, Jimena Emily Homma, and Miho Naruse. "Uncovering Inner Dilemmas Experienced by Parents of Multicultural Families in Japan." Journal of Comparative Family Studies 50, no. 3 (2019): 261-284. Rollins, Alethea and Andrea G. Hunter. "Racial Socialization of Biracial Youth: Maternal Messages and Approaches to Address Discrimination." Family Relations 62, no. 1 (02, 2013): 140-53, http://ezproxy.liberty.edu/login?qurl=https%3A%2F %2Fwww.proquest.com%2Fscholarly-journals%2Fracial-socialization-biracial-youth- maternal%2Fdocview%2F1335056084%2Fse-2%3Faccountid%3D12085 . Shirani, Fiona, Karen Henwood, and Carrie Coltart. “Meeting the Challenges of Intensive Parenting Culture: Gender, Risk Management and the Moral Parent.” Sociology 46, no. 1 (February 2012): 25–40. https://doi.org/ 10.1177/0038038511416169 . Silva, L., Campbell, K., & Wright, D.W. (2012). Intercultural relationships: Entry, adjust- ment, and cultural negotiations. Journal of Comparative Family Studies, 43(6), 857–870. Stephens, Rhiannon. "“Whether they Promised each Other some Thing is Difficult to Work Out”: The Complicated History of Marriage in Uganda." African Studies Review 59, no. 1 (2016): 127-153. 8

Your preview ends here

Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version

Access to all documents
Unlimited textbook solutions
24/7 expert homework help

Cross-Cultural Marriage Ward, Colleen, and Antony Kennedy. “Acculturation Strategies, Psychological Adjustment, and Sociocultural Competence during Cross-Cultural Transitions.” International Journal of Intercultural Relations 18, no. 3 (1994): 329–43. https://doi.org/10.1016/0147- 1767(94)90036-1. Wood, Kirsten E. “Nancy F. Cott, Public Vows: A History of Marriage and the Nation,Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 2000. P 297 (ISBN 0–674–00320–9).” Law and history review. 21, no. 2 (2003): 419–421 9

Revised Research Paper - Cross Cultural Marriages

Related Documents