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Marriage, a History
448 pages, 2006
In this thorough and thought-provoking book, historian and marriage expert Stephanie Coontz takes readers from the marital intrigues of ancient Babylon to the sexual torments of Victorian couples to demonstrate how recent the idea of marrying for love is—and how absurd it would have seemed to most of our ancestors.
It was only 200 years ago that marriage began to be about emotional commitment, and since then, the very things that have strengthened marriage as a personal relationship have steadily weakened it as a social institution. Marriage, A History brings insight and some badly needed perspective to today's marital debates and dilemmas.
In 'Marriage, a History', Stephanie Coontz takes us on a journey through time, exploring how the concept of marriage has evolved. From being a strategic alliance between families to becoming a bond based on love and companionship, marriage has undergone significant transformations.
Coontz digs into the economic aspects of marriage, revealing how it was once a means of consolidating wealth and power. However, with the rise of industrialization and capitalism, the economic dynamics within marriage have changed, making it more about mutual support and less about financial gain.
The book explores the relatively recent phenomenon of marrying for love. Coontz explains that love-based marriages only became the norm in the last couple of centuries. Before that, marriage was more about social and economic stability than romantic love.
Stephanie Coontz takes a look at the changing gender roles in marriage. She explains how traditional roles have been challenged and reshaped over time, leading to more egalitarian relationships in modern marriages.
In 'Marriage, a History', Coontz doesn't just look at the past, she also speculates on the future of marriage. She suggests that as society continues to evolve, so will our understanding and expectations of marriage, making it a continually evolving institution.