Getting Married Has Many Effects on a Relationship
In a man-woman relationship, it is almost always that it ultimately leads to the couple getting married. Even despite the apparently significant issues concerning getting married or the concept of marriage itself, it is a human inclination especially for love-struck people to tie the knot. This is because of the idea that getting married is like strengthening a relationship and for a couple to live as one in accordance with what faith and the society dictates.
Beyond therefore of the many effects of getting married on a relationship, it is still fundamental to consider its general and most acceptable outcome of eventually realizing the love which exists between two persons. Getting married, in all its circumstances, is supposed to results into something good and positive rather than damaging the living condition of married people. In fact, the whole concept of marriage should be associated with ways beneficial to couples. However, it is unfortunate to note that getting married nowadays has also been connected with several relevant negative implications on a relationship.
Such undeniable reality only shows people’s varying perspectives towards getting married hence resulting to its many effects on one’s affiliation to another person. Considering the significance of the topic of getting married to one’s decision-making and existence, it is empirical to approach the issue in a way that its different impacts on a person’s relationship are identified and understood. In doing so, not only the several effects of getting married are recognized but essential recommendations and conclusion may be achieved.
Getting Married, an Overview Several factors or facts are essential to be considered along with one’s choice to get married. This is because getting married is not only deciding on a lasting or permanent vow and dedication. A person’s decision to get married is like opening oneself to its many components such as its legal and financial aspects. The importance of said elements is attributed to the fact that they are the ones which determine the eventual implications of getting married on a relationship.
Beyond the love which serves as one’s vital reason in getting married, it is worthy for a person that a clear definition and goals are drawn in order to effectively carry out the concept of marriage. Getting married refers to the act and intention of uniting two persons (“Getting Married: An Overview,” n. d. ). According to Pawelski and company (2006), the act of getting married means the legal and/or civil union as well as the religious form of union between two persons. Civil marriage represents the legal union between a couple which was created by a marriage license provided by the state government.
Meanwhile, religious marriage, which is dependent with the couple’s faith, is regarded to be a liturgical ceremony or religious sacrament which solemnly unites the couple (Pawelski et al. , 2006). Based from these clear definitions, only one thing is certain and that is, regardless of the type of marriage, getting married is definitely a crucial decision and undertaking for two persons. This is primarily due to the reality that after the legal requirements and ceremony, the marriage is sure to affect the relationship between the couple and the people surrounding them.
Beneficial Effects on a Relationship Despite some depressing relationship-based concerns related with one’s decision to get married, the principle of marriage is generally wanted and appreciated. This is because of its many beneficial implications particularly on the relationship of two persons. This was the dispute made by Waite and Gallagher (2000) who said that regardless of the weakening prestige of marriage, getting married definitely manifests one’s conventional promise of love “’till death do us part” (Waite & Gallagher, 2000).
Getting married, as learned by Waite and Gallagher through studies, paves the way for the couple to form a distinct and exceptional relationship. The two authors emphasized that such union, whether done in civil or religious rite, enhances and deepens the connection between the husband and wife as well as improves the perspectives and attributes of the couple themselves (Waite & Gallagher, 2000). In stressing the beneficial effects of one’s choice to get married, Waite and Gallagher further argued the so-called after marriage myths.
They opposed the idea which signifies that marriage is basically due to the idea only of children or for the purpose of having and rearing offspring. The two also disagreed with the popular belief that marriage is the fundamental private matter of the heart which exists between two persons in love. They added that the said twisted perspectives about getting married have, in fact, no scientific or factual foundation (Waite & Gallagher, 2000). Waite and Gallagher likewise clarified that getting married does not only confirm a pre-existing love-based affiliation between couples.
Marriage also alters the couple’s objectives in life and conducts toward each other. This situation is manifested in manners that are extremely and strongly life changing and enhancing. The advantageous effects of getting married on a relationship, therefore, are recognized within the noticeable areas of physical condition, material possessions and attested sexual satisfaction (Waite & Gallagher, 2000). To bring to a close that marriage is indeed beneficial, Waite and Gallagher said that getting married is not just to have a label. Marriage remains to be a transformative idea and practice.
This is because the union between two persons does not only identify an existing relationship but is also a way to form other connections. Such acknowledged relationship is not only between the couple themselves but is extended through each other’s family, friends and respective communities (Waite & Gallagher, 2000). The above-mentioned argument was corroborated by Russo (2000) who said that the dispute by Waite and Gallagher is correct. Since getting married is not just a couple’s decision in a private matter or that marriage is to be considered just a piece of paper, Russo claimed that marriage results to significant advantageous effects.
This is because marriage definitely modifies and even improves a couple’s way of interaction with each other. Getting married also allows the two persons to better plan their future. Most importantly, the principle of marriage enables a couple to experience satisfaction and success in relationship (Russo, 2000). Getting married is expected to be the most beautiful thing that will come to the lives and relationship of a couple. The previous condition of deciding and carrying out things alone is replaced with the reality that once married, a person now has someone whose life will be unconditionally shared.
This leads us to the fact that getting married definitely makes people happy because of the idea that it enhances the couple’s welfare. This condition is very much particular based from the women’s perspective. Hence, married women experience happiness and fulfillment as they now have their husbands to take care of them and eventually their family (Stutzer & Frey, 2006). Harmful Effects on a Relationship Considering a person’s additional relationships other than which exists with the person he or she is about to get married, the harmful impacts of marriage may inevitably set in.
It is expected that marriage signals positive effects as far as gaining additional family members and widening of circle of friends are concern. However, this may not always be the case because of the varying qualities of the individual families of the couple. It is during this condition that getting married proves to be harmful rather than beneficial to the couple Another notable consideration why getting married negatively affects a relationship is one’s personal differences. These include physical, mental, emotional and social disparities which when brought to the marriage are sure to affect the relationship in way or the other.
In effect, the objective behind the concept and carrying out of getting married turns out to be to the detrimental of couple’s relationship. This is manifested in situations where educational, professional and social statuses affect how one experience married life (Stutzer & Frey, 2006). Stutzer and Frey explained that due to the said dissimilarities, the decision of the couple to get married turns out to be a factor which eventually ignites animosity and other damaging feelings between the couple. Instead of strengthening the relationship, such unsettled distinctions are aggravated once two persons decided to get married.
As a consequence, the couple’s relationship is shattered rather than intensified by marriage. Conclusion It is a reality that getting married has many effects on a relationship. The difference now lies whether the marriage results into something beneficial or harmful on the couple’s relationship. In its totality, getting married strengthens the bonding which exists between two persons. Marriage further turns beneficial if the couple’s family and extended community help in the improvement rather than weakening of the relationship.
Marriage damaging a couple’s relationship can be avoided if at the onset, disparities were clearly identified and worked out. In this way, it is clear with the couple that whatever problems that may come their way, it is their marriage that will keep them together. In the event, however, that the effects of getting married turned out to be harmful, there are still practical steps which can be taken to remedy the situation. This is where marriage counseling may be considered. Through this kind of program, the negative effects of getting married on a couple’s relationship will be analyzed in a way that a strong relationship is aimed.
With the possible solutions, getting married, therefore, is the ultimate undertaking that a couple should look forward to. References Nolo. com. (n. d. ). Getting Married: An Overview. Retrieved January 3, 2009, from http://www. nolo. com/article. cfm/pg/1/objectId/96BF674D-6EB5-4A8C-865FBDEF29B845B3/catId/697DBAFE-20FF-467A-9E9395985EE7E825/118/304/192/ART/ Pawelski, J. G. , Perrin, E. C. , Foy, J. M. , Allen, C. E. , Crawford, J. E. , Del Monte, M. , et al. (2006). The Effects of Marriage, Civil Union and Domestic Partnership Laws on the Health and Well-being of Children. Pediatrics, 118(1), 349-364.
Russo, S. (2000, December 4). The Many Benefits of Traditional Marriage [Review of the book The Case for Marriage: Why Married People are Happier, Healthier, and Better off Financially]. Accuracy in Academia. Retrieved from http://www. academia. org/campus_reports/2000/december_2000_4. html Stutzer, A. & Frey, B. S. (2006). Does marriage make people happy, or do happy people get married? Journal of Socio-Economics, 35(2), 326-347. Waite, L. J. & Gallagher, M. (2000). The Case for Marriage: Why Married People are Happier, Healthier, and Better off Financially. New York: Doubleday.
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