Marriage is a culturally and often legally recognized union between people called spouses, which establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children (if any), and between them and their in-laws. The universality of marriage within different societies and cultures is attributed to the many basic social and personal functions for which it provides structure, such as sexual gratification and regulation, division of labor between the sexes, economic production and consumption, and satisfaction of personal needs for affection, status, and companionship.
Marriage has historically conferred a legitimate status on the offspring, which entitled him or her to the various privileges set down by the traditions of that community, including the right of inheritance. The main legal function of marriage is to ensure the rights of the partners with respect to each other and to ensure the rights and define the relationships of children within a community.
Individuals may marry for several reasons, including legal, social, libidinal, emotional, financial, spiritual, political, and religious purposes. Marriage is an institution that is historically filled with restrictions, from age, to race, to social status, to consanguinity, to gender, restrictions are placed on marriage by society for reasons of benefiting the children, passing on healthy genes, etc. .
In summary, marriage is a legal and often culturally recognized union between people called spouses, which establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children, and between them and their in-laws. It provides structure for basic social and personal functions, such as sexual gratification and regulation, division of labor between the sexes, economic production and consumption, and satisfaction of personal needs for affection, status, and companionship.
