The 1860 definition of marriage is as follows: ‘It is the voluntary union for life of one man and one woman, to the exclusion of all others.’
With recent developments in the country around polyandry, many are questioning whether the concept of love, relationships and marriage has ‘out evolved us.
Kaya Drive touched on the institution of marriage being a deep-rooted construct built on values of family, building a home and eternal happiness.
Sizwe uses his mom and dad’s marriage as a testament for his beliefs on marriage.
“I come from a family where my parents are still together. 38 years and they’re still married and the guys are still happy. So, I look at that and I think, ah this thing is possible mos,” Sizwe explained.
Also read: 7 reasons the fairytale happily-ever-after is a flawed concept
Historically, the institution of marriage was how families secured the passing of status, wealth and property from generation to generation. The adage “keep it in the family” was literally about ensuring the wealth doesn’t run out between prominent families.
The concept of arranged marriages, which is still practised in some cultures around the world, was largely due to financial resources. Regardless of a family’s wealth, women’s bodies and labour were regarded as the “property” of their husbands in the 18th and 19th century.
With more women securing their own careers, gaining independence and managing their own finances today, perhaps the biggest question to modern women in relation to marriage is, “what does this add to my life?”
Is marriage still considered a sanctity of family when children are being conceived out of wedlock?
Also read: What the law says about absent parents
If more people are raising families as single parents, 60% of SA children have absent fathers and more than 40% of South African mothers are single parents, then is marriage still about starting a family?
Earlier this month, Willow Smith spoke about being polyamorous and how the concept of marriage irked her.
U.S data released in 2020 showed the rate of marriage had reached a record low, dropping from 6.9% nationally to 6.5%.
The trend is no different in South Africa with a decrease in the registration of civil marriages of 1.3% and customary marriages by 11.7%.
Traditional marriage has been on a downward spiral with a projection that 25% of millennials will never get married. According to research, marriage has lost the appeal with 70% of millennials.
