Same Sex Marriages Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Same Sex Marriages - Essay Example This paper evaluates how same sex marriages have broken down the general patterns of the family unit. Same Sex Marriages A family is the basic unit of society and it comprises of individuals, related by blood or marriage. Basically family comprises of husband, wife and the children. However, changes in social dynamics such as death, divorce, different sexual preferences and remarriage has created different combinations of families, such as single parent, same sex and blended families. Consequently, the traditional nuclear family is just one of the many types of families in the society. Therefore, the definition of the family has changed and is amorphous, comprising of any group of people living together, protecting each other and supporting one another in life (Wilson 29) From time immemorial, a family, involving the marriage of woman and a man has been an institution that preserves social and cultural values associated with procreation (Wald 383). This implies that a marriage forms the foundation of the values or norms that ensures that human life is transmitted from one generation to the next successfully. In the process, it ensures that the life of the child is nurtured to maturity, inculcating the same values to ensure the perpetuation of the human race. Therefore, it is through heterosexual marriage that the society duly recognizes the association of two individuals charged with the responsibility of transmitting human life, nurturing and protecting it to mature and responsible individuals. It is therefore through institutionalization of heterosexual marriage that the present and future of human race is secured. Hence, heterosexual marriage is the epitome of life and it demonstrates the respect that humanity has for life. Same sex marriage undermines the ability of a relationship to procreate and perpetuate the human race and hence it changes the meaning of a family. In addition, same sex marriage undermines the very essence of the family of withholding an d transmitting family values along the generations. According to Meezan and Rauch (104), marriage entails the recognition of a couple’s relationship and their commitment to one another in the public domain. The recognition of heterosexual marriage in the public domain is intended to enforce the reproductive function of the union to protect and promote the well-being of the resulting family. Therefore, in a convectional society, a marriage is not recognized just because it entails a union of two consenting adults, but for the above-mentioned purposes. The recognition and institutionalization of the same sex marriage is primarily motivated by individualism or egoism of the concerned couples and society at large. It is the epitome of selfishness, where the future of human race is sacrificed at the altar of egoism, contrary to the very essence of family. Ordinarily, a family is founded on the purest form of commitment, love and dedication to each other’s welfare. Selfless sharing of both moral and material resources for the benefit of all people involved without reservation forms the foundation of successful family and humanity (Maria et al 1044). It is apparent that same sex marriage, with all its purported benefit of ensuring all people enjoy their happiness falls short of these fundamental requirements. Giving birth to children, parenting and providing for them until they become independent is one of the many ways that