FAMILY
MARRIAGE
NATURE AND DEFINITION OF MARRIAGE
Humankinds most basic and oldest social unit is
the family. It is a social institution primarily
established by society to ensure its continuity and
to regulate the sexual behavior of its members.
The family is the primary group where the child
is initially socialized and initiated in the ways of
life of his group. The family provides the childs
social, psychological, and emotional needs
warmth, intimacy, affection, love, nurturance,
care and security.
Marriage is another human construction to
insure the continuity of the family and the
eventual perpetuation of the human specie.
The New Family Code of the Philippines, which
became effective on August 3,1998, defines
Marriage as a special contract of permanent
union between a man and a woman entered into
in accordance with law for the establishment of
conjugal and the family life.
Light and Keller (1985)
defines marriage as a socially recognized
union between two or more individuals that
typically involves sexual and economic rights
and duties.
c. A third
. meaning of marriage suggest that families and
the marital relationship exist for the
individual.