Relationships

Marriage is a critical structure in most societies. The textbook seeks to explain various
marriages, including traditional, modern, and egalitarian. The video also presents discussions of
these relationships and how people perceive the idea of a marriage proposal (Engagement 101,
n.d.). Marriage as a union initiated by one male or female partner is the most applicable meaning
for these potential relationships.
Egalitarian marriage appears to be more desired because it gives both parties, either man
or woman, an opportunity to express themselves. Unlike the traditional times, women are now
empowered and can come out and express their feelings and attitudes towards their partners
during a marriage proposal. The duo can exchange rings instead of waiting until the man gets to
his knee to propose, as discussed in the video (Engagement 101, n.d.). Besides, this kind of
marriage allows for equal sharing of responsibilities where both partners act as co-managers
rather than helpers. Equality enhances marital happiness.
The potential marital relationships support the marriage gradient discussed in the
textbook research. For instance, they discuss traditional marriage where the man dominates the
union. It was based on a patriarchal system where women were considered properties to their
fathers and, later, their husbands (Lamanina & Stewart, 2020). Such has changed over time, and
now women have alternatives for marriages, including cohabiting and remaining single.
Marriage should be mutual, and no one has power more than the other in the relationship. The
video and textbook research shows the changes between traditional, modern, and future
marriages.
Women marry for various reasons, including love, companionship, and status quo.
Getting married shows that the man has committed to loving the woman. Besides, marriage is

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like a contract between two people; therefore, no one has more power over the other regarding
providing companionship and support.
The social exchange theory postulates that each partner’s interaction in a relationship is
assumed to vary inversely with the perceived costs and directly with the perceived rewards of the
marital relationship. Therefore, people tend to pursue relationships when rewards are more
significant than costs and forego those where prices are higher than profits (Lamanina & Stewart,
2020). Such is evident in the marital relationships depicted in the video, where women can
propose to men as long as there are perceived rewards such as love and companionship.
Otherwise, the proposal can be abandoned when women are subjected to patriarchal
expectations.

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References

Lamanna, M. A., Riedmann, A., & Stewart, S. D. (2020). Marriages, families, and relationships:
Making choices in a diverse society. Cengage Learning.
Engagement 101. (n.d.). Women Proposing to Men, why not? [Video]. YouTube.
https://youtu.be/YQnAc6dz6bE