Patterns and Trends in Canadian Marriages and Relationships

As you have considered in the other activities in this course, social institutions help to maintain control of members, socialize members, and transmit norms and values to members. Marriage is a social institution that is present in most cultures, and has often been the foundation of family life. You already know that norms and values change over time. Social institutions, including marriage, do as well.

You might wonder then, do most Canadians still get married today? Do couples prefer to live in common law unions, or do people choose to remain single? Take a look at the following article to get a glimpse of what marriage, as a social institution, looks like in Canada today.

Marriage Throughout History

The social institution of marriage is constantly evolving. Additionally, it is a challenge to define a traditional marriage, as they are incredibly varied. What is traditional is really dependent on time and place. For some people, a traditional marriage might be considered a man and a woman raising children. In other cultures, polygamy is considered the norm.

In the past, and still in some places today, marriage was and is a way to regulate sexual activity and ensure the young will be nurtured and protected. The concept of love really does not have a place in marriages.

From the 18th through to the 20th century in Canada, the concept of happiness became more prevalent, and people started to have more say in their marriage partner. And as women gained rights, they started to be viewed more as partners rather than property - and the institution of marriage changed accordingly.

Read the following articles to see how marriage patterns and marriage norms and customs have changed over time in Canada. If you want to view any links in the following pdfs, right click and select "Open Link in New Tab" to avoid leaving this page.

Marriage Customs: Arranged Marriages

As you have discovered, marriage customs are influenced by social and economic conditions of the time and region and they evolve accordingly.

The custom of an arranged marriage is not new. However, the realities associated with what it means to have an arranged marriage have changed over time and differ by culture. Arranged marriages can be thought of as a continuum. For some cultural groups, the couple has no say in their marriage partner, and they are forced into a partnership. At the opposite end of the continuum, even the current use of online dating sites that involve matching quizzes has an element of arrangement. In the middle of the continuum might be what is known as a semi-arranged marriage, where people simply gain parental approval.

Take a look at the following videos and blog regarding arranged marriages. Investigate the differences and notice the impact that these arranged marriages have on the individuals involved in the intimate relationships.

Divorce in Canada

You have already seen that marriage, as a social institution, has undergone a great number of changes and has evolved over time. These changing beliefs and new laws now mean that divorce is a more accessible option for married couples.

Just how common is divorce in Canada? Examine the following figure to identify patterns and trends in divorce rates.

The History of Divorce

The reasons why a couple might select to dissolve a marriage are varied, and like marriage, have evolved over time. Throughout this activity, you have already read some information about changes in divorce. Complete the following interactive to reveal important trends in the evolution of divorce in Canada.

If you're working on a tablet, click here to open the following interactive in its own window instead of using the embedded version below.