The forms of marriage exist on the basis of the number of partners and rules governing who can marry whom. On the basis of the number of partners, two major forms of marriage are observed.
Monogamy : Monogamy denotes marriage to one spouse at a time. Monogamy is the most familiar pattern of marriage for most of us. It is more popular and accepted form of marriage. Many societies have laws to uphold this practice.
Polygamy : Polygamy denotes marriage to more than one partner at a given time. Polygamy exists in two different forms:
1. Polyandry : It is a form of marriage wherein one woman marries more than one man at a given time. Extreme poverty may be one of the reasons for the practice of polyandry where a single man cannot support a wife and children adequately.
2. Polygyny : It is a form of marriage wherein one man has two or more wives at a time. Polygyny can be seen as a strategy which allows powerful males to control reproductive resources and to tactically manipulate kin ties. On the basis of rules governing who can marry whom, two major forms of marriage are observed:
1. Endogamy denotes marriage within a culturally defined group, (e.g. caste, sect, tribe).
2. Exogamy, on the other hand, denotes marriage outside individual’s own group e.g. Gotra.
On the basis of status, two major forms of marriage are observed. Marriages usually take place between partners having similar social status.
Hypergamy : In hypergamy, a man marries a woman of a lower social group or a woman marries ‘up’ which elevates her position in society.
Hypogamy : In hypogamy a man marries ‘up’ or marries a woman of a higher social status group. This type of marriage offers a man from lower rank an entry into the higher rank. In 1989, Denmark became the first country to formally recognise homosexual marriages.
