Social construction of marriage has currently formed a barrier in Kashmir society for people who wish to get married but are unable to do so
All cultures have a marriage institution. It exists in all societies. It is one of society’s fundamental institutions. It contributes people to society in a legal manner and every civilization recognizes and adheres to its marital customs and values. There are also newly developed and readily available alternatives. However, when it comes to marriage, the majority of societies around the world adhere to their own social conventions and ideals which have a strong religious foundation. Every major religion in the world has also endorsed certain standards and ideals for marriage. Some people adhere to certain societal standards and ideals, while others are utterly opposed to them. Everyone has their own preferences. Due to the fact that most societies tolerate both civil and religious marriages; people who marry can follow both either religious, civil or a combination of both.
Most members of Kashmir society adhere to the traditions surrounding their wedding ceremony. They are either compelled or given the option to conform to societal norms set forth by their families or society in order to display conspicuous consumerism. However, some people are looking past societal construction. There are numerous reasons why people seek beyond social construction, mostly financial, and religious. The social construction of marriage has currently formed a barrier in Kashmir society for people who wish to get married but are unable to do so, primarily owing to financial constraints and conspicuous consumerism. The nonsensical customs begin with the marriage proposal and continue until childbirth, and these Customs are directly tied to economic value in this process. Money is provided and transferred in the form of customs from proposals to childbirth. In a survey conducted by the non-profit organization Tehreek e Falah-Ul-Muslimeen, nearly 50000 women in Kashmir valley have crossed the age limit of getting marriage, because of unnecessary customs and fashion. In Kashmir society, the word “marriage” has taken on a symbolic meaning, as Ferdinand Saussure once observed. It immediately conjures up in the imagination a picture of seven to ten lakh rupees. Even in rural areas, people spend between 5 and 6 lakh solely to adhere to social norms.
Marriage in our society is mostly based on customs and folkways rather than more. People can easily break them and then think beyond the box to pursue new options. In Kashmir society, the higher classes are primarily responsible for creating the custom of marriage. Then why do these traditions affect the middle and lower classes; because they adhere to social construction and have a misunderstanding of modernity. Because of social construction and without applying any logic, those from lower social classes attempt to uphold the standards of those from higher social classes in every culture.
While adhering to or accepting any social customs and folkways, people should do it in accordance with modernity’s guiding principles. Why should people adhere to modernity’s guiding principles while modernism when performing the marriage ceremony? Due to the high weighted economic values associated with marital practices. Every ritual, from the marriage proposal to becoming a father, has a financial cost. Therefore, it has created a barrier for individuals leading middle-class or lower-class lives in society. So lower middle-class and middle-class people should develop their own social structures around this institution to facilitate the marriage ceremony for them and prevent them from engaging in conspicuous consumption and causing further harm to their own offspring
Alternatives to the culture of marriage in modern society include simple marriage, MASS marriage, and marriages based on religion. In terms of financial worth, these marriages are simple. The majority of Kashmir is following Islam. All of these traditions are not present in marriage in Islam. It has made it difficult for those who desire to get married. Both sides should be prepared for this kind of marriage. However, there are people in society who desire to wed in this manner, and some of them have already done so. Simple marriage is another variety. Some people in society engage in this type of behavior. Most traditions are not followed in this kind of marriage, and the ceremony is fairly straightforward. Mass weddings are the final one.
Recently, certain NGOs and religious organizations have conducted these types of marriages. Yes, it is simple to disregard norms pertaining to marriage. If we accomplish this, it will pave the way for new social structures that future generations can adopt, making marriage simple and economical for everyone in society. This will ultimately prevent social catastrophe in our society that we are currently experiencing.
The writer is Ph.D. scholar in Sociology. He can be reached at ad********@***il.com