Home Economics: Marriage (Notes - Ireland)

Marriage definition
Socially and legally accepted union between two people of either sex or same sex (gay marriage legalised in 2015). Legal contract between two people.

Monogamy
one male and one female (or same sex)

Bigamy
Crime of marrying B while still married to A

Polygamy
More than one partner allowed

Polygyny
One male and several females

Polyandry
One female and many males

Laws relating to marriage
- Must be over 18
- Voluntary decision
- Not already married
- 3 months notice required
- Not blood relative
- Take place in registered building
- Must be registered

Rights and Responsibilities within marriage
- Right to each others company
- Expected to be faithful and loyal
- Entitled to have sexual relationship and consummate marriage
- Provide financial support for partner and child
- Joint guardianship of children and provide for them
- Succession Act - no will + no children = spouse entitled to inherit it all
- If you have children - spouse entitled to 2/3 and children entitled to 1/3

Marriage preparation at home
- Home provides first experience of marriage
- Parents are role models
- Content marriage = positive influence
- Unhappy marriage = difficulties in later life

Marriage preparation at school
- SPHE
- Relationship and sexuality education
- Religion
- Home Economics

Pre-Marriage courses
- Run by accord (catholic church)
- Marriage and relationship counselling service
- Other independent groups
- Provide couples with information regarding expectations and reality of marriage

Topics covered on pre-marriage courses
- Relationships
- Family planning
- Child rearing
- Financial responsibility
- Buying a home
- Problems such as alcoholism, gambling, abuse

Factors affecting marriage stability
- Expectations of marriage
- Family background - good example
- Age - teen marriage likely to separate
- Similar cultures and interests
- Money, long working hours, social problems - alcohol, drugs and abuse

Marriage counselling
- If you are experiencing difficulties you might decide to get counselling
- Trained counsellor provides neutral environment for discussion.
- May refer to experts - sex, alcohol
- Will not work if only one person attends

Family mediation
- Couples have agreed to separate
- Provided by Dept. Social and Family Affairs
- Sort out custody arrangements for children
- Finance
- Family home and property

Mediation
It is a completely free service and provides mediation services to couples, both married and unmarried, who are separating or whose relationship has broken down. Professional, trained mediators help the couple to negotiate their own agreement to deal with

Separation
- Legal separation is:
- arranged through mediation
- both parties agree
- avoids court
- terms drawn up on Deed of Separation by a solicitor

Judicial Separation act
This is when couples cannot agree on the terms of separation
- Grounds for separation include:
- Adultery
- Desertion (1 year)
- Unreasonable Behaviour (alcohol, abuse)
- Marital relationship absent (no sex) for 1 year
- Not lived together for 1 year

Divorce
- Introduced in Ireland in 1996
- Couple lived apart for 4 of the past 5 years
- No possibility of reconciliation
- Provision made for dependents (children)

Legal/Civil nullity
Refers to a marriage that never existed
- Grounds for legal/civil nullity include:
- Spouse already married
- Marriage not consummated (no sex)
- Legal requirement not met
- Forced into marriage
- Under the influence of alcohol, drugs

Church Nullity
May be granted on some grounds as legal nullity, however it has no legal standing

Increase of Marital breakdown
- Due to:
- separation and divorce now widely accepted
- Easier and less expensive to get a divorce
- Women are now often financially dependent
- State assistance available for lone parents
- Increase in social problems which place a strain on marriage

Effects of marital breakdown on spouses
- Feeling of failure and guilt
- May become lonely and isolated
- Financial loss, fall in living standards
- Spouse who does not have custody of the children may feel rejected
- Difficult to form new relationships

Effects of marital breakdown on children
- May feel responsible for breakup
- Can be used as emotional blackmail
- Loss of father/mother figure
- May have negative views of marriage
- Difficulty in forming relationships
- May have to move home
- May experience physical or emotional violence during breakdown period

Effects of marital breakdown on society
- Undermines the family, a basic unit of Irish society
- Dependence on state for support
- Greater need for accommodation
- Increase in one parent families
- Increase in juvenile delinquency