Types of marriage and alternatives to the family Cambridge IGCSE Sociology revision
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In plain words
Marriage is one of the few customs found in almost every society, and almost no two societies do it in quite the same way. And a growing number of people do not live in a family at all.
8 things to know
- Monogamy is being married to one person at a time. Serial monogamy is a series of marriages one after another: a person marries, divorces and marries again.
- An arranged marriage is one in which the families choose, or help to choose, the partner, with the agreement of the couple. It is different from a forced marriage, which has no consent and is illegal in many countries.
- A love marriage is one in which the partners choose each other on the basis of romantic love.
- An empty shell marriage is one in which the couple stay married and live together, but without love or closeness. They may stay for the sake of the children, money, religion or reputation.
- Depending on the country you study in, your course may also cover polygamy, which is marriage to more than one person at the same time, and same-sex marriage. Each is legal in some countries and not in others.
- A single person household is one person living alone, such as a young worker or an older person whose partner has died. These have become more common as people marry later, divorce more and live longer.
- A shared household is a group of unrelated people living together and sharing costs, such as students.
- Friends as family: for some people, close friends give the support and loyalty that relatives traditionally gave. This is most common among people who live far from their families.
Worked example
A man marries at 25, divorces at 35, marries again at 40, and is still married to his second wife. Which term describes this pattern, and why is it not polygamy?
- He has had two marriages, one after the other. This is serial monogamy.
- At any one time he has had only one wife.
- Polygamy means being married to more than one person at the same time, so the term does not apply.
Tips and tricks
- An arranged marriage has the consent of the couple. A forced marriage does not. Never use the two words as if they meant the same.
- Serial monogamy is the result of divorce followed by remarriage. Link it to rising divorce rates when you can.
It lands in your notebook with its questions as flashcards.
Types of marriage and alternatives to the family: 5 questions and answers
These are the quiz’s questions. Do the quiz first, then come back here for the ones that got you.
What is serial monogamy?
One partner at a time, more than one over a lifetime.
What is an empty shell marriage?
The outside remains, and the inside has gone.
What is the key difference between an arranged and a forced marriage?
Consent is the dividing line.
What is a shared household?
Students sharing a house are an example.
Why might "friends as family" be more common in large cities?Stretch
Distance from family makes friendships do more of the work.
Quiz
5 questions
Tap an answer and you’ll see straight away whether it’s right, and why.
Worksheet
3 questions, 10 marks. Write your answers on paper, then check them.
Types of marriage and alternatives to the family
Cambridge IGCSE Sociology 0495 · 10 marks · papermunch.org
Name ______________________________ Date ______________
What is meant by the term "monogamy"?[2]
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Being married to only one person at a time.
Describe two types of marriage.[4]
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Any two, each described: arranged marriage, where families choose or help choose the partner with the couple's consent; love marriage, where partners choose each other on the basis of romantic love; empty shell marriage, where a couple stay married without love; serial monogamy, a series of marriages one after another.
Explain two reasons why more people live in single person households.[4]
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Any two, each explained: people marry later, so young adults live alone for longer; divorce is more common, leaving people on their own; people live longer, so more outlive their partners; more people can afford to live alone and choose independence.
Answers: Types of marriage and alternatives to the family
- 1. Being married to only one person at a time.
- 2. Any two, each described: arranged marriage, where families choose or help choose the partner with the couple's consent; love marriage, where partners choose each other on the basis of romantic love; empty shell marriage, where a couple stay married without love; serial monogamy, a series of marriages one after another.
- 3. Any two, each explained: people marry later, so young adults live alone for longer; divorce is more common, leaving people on their own; people live longer, so more outlive their partners; more people can afford to live alone and choose independence.