Marriage is one of the crucial processes in the world. It refers to a ritually, socially recognized legal contracts and union between spouses. In most cases, marriage has remained controversial due to global diversity and variation of culture. The meaning of marriage is very different compared in many communities because of cultural differences. Despite the differences this institutions acknowledges various issues, which conclude sexual, intimate and interpersonal relationship. The issue of marriage on north and South America is very controversial and diverse. This is because of the variation of culture, government and policies governing marriage. There are various types of marriage in the region. In general perspective, research shows that marriage still remains one of the crucial institutions in South and North America.
Marriage in North and South America is a crucial institution that asserts affection and love. In most countries, monogamous marriage is what is legally accepted. But due to cultural differences and social variation individuals practice polygamous type of marriage. Religion is also one of the component that influence marriage in North America and South America and for this reason most of the peoples with religious affiliation go into marriage based on their religious beliefs (Haines 12). In the past, marriage between male and female were the only recognized, but based on global dynamics there is a shift.
In North and South America, same sex marriages still remain controversial. This is because there are countries that have legalized same sex marriage while in other countries it is illegal. Current condition of marriage parity in South America differs according to countries. For example, some of the countries in South America are open to same sex marriage while others are illegal. Some of the countries that have legalized marriage include Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador Falkland Islands, and Uruguay (Lahey 32). On the other hand some countries in South America have illegalized same sex marriage. This includes Guyana Colombia, and Bolivia. In Chile same sex marriage s pending due to various opposing and supporting views (Snyder 45). In the North America, countries that have illegalized same sex marriage include Canada. It is also performed in various states in the United States and in Mexico. Other countries in North America have illegalized same sex marriage. This shows that same sex marriage still remains a controversial issue.
Current trends in both South and North America show that there is a reduction in the rate of marriage. The current rate of marriage is declining due to the fact that people o-pt to get married later in life. The rate of marriage in North and South America is approximately 6% per 1000 total population. The rate is changing due to the increase in divorce. The rate of divorce tends to increase. Studies show that in the region 40-50% of the marriages in the regions will end in divorce.
Age of marriage is one of the considerable issues in many countries. In North America, the age of marriage range from the age of 16-18 years, but in Puerto Rico the age of marriage is 21 years old. The age of marriage that has been legalized by the constitution but there are various cases of early of late marriage (Haines 22). On the same note, in South America the legal age of marriage range form 16-18 years of age. In Bolivia and Paraguay, women as young as 14 years are allowed to get married. Regardless of the legal age of marriage, studies show that men and women get married later at the average age of 28 and 25 respectively. In general perspective, marriage is a dynamic process and it varies from one region to another because of culture.
Work Cited
Haines, Michael R. A Population History of North America. Cambridge [u.a.: Cambridge Univ. Press, 2000. Print.
Lahey, Kathy. Same Sex Marriage: The Personal and the Political. Toronto: Insomniac Press, 2004. Internet resource.
Snyder, R C. Gay Marriage and Democracy: Equality for All. Lanham, Md: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2005. Print.
