Dependent On Marriage example essay topic

Amare liz De La Cruz November 2003 English Composition Essay 3 Part 1 Marriage by definition is the state of being married, a close union. In American society women have often given themselves fully into a marriage, husbands, and children. In the past thirty years there has been a tremendous turn around in the woman's rights movements. Women today are not as committed or dependent on marriage as they were fifty years ago. This has changed the relationship between men, women, and their families. Women in the past were committed to their husbands and families, not only on an emotional level but financially as well.

Whitehead explains that women in the past were economically dependent on men, because there weren't many jobs out there for women, now was it expected for a woman to have a job. It was very uncommon for men and women to divorce and then remarry therefore women, according to Whitehead, felt responsible to keep their marriage together even if the relationship was damaged. They were the glue that held the family together because not many worked; their main job was to take care of the home and family. Women today on the other hand are not as committed as they were fifty years ago. In today's society their are more opportunities for paid work then there ever was in the past. So women no longer have to feel stuck in a marriage because of their financial situation.

Also, as Whitehead explains there is availability for child care, so that women can live on their own, work and know their child is being taken care of. Therefore it is now possible for women to raise children on their own, without the help of a husband. Whiteheads view on whether the families should go back to the old way is mixed. She believes that women do not have to get together for women to be good mothers. It is no longer necessary for women to stay at home in an unhappy marriage to be a suitable parent for their child.

On the other hand Whitehead feels little children need more then just a good mother to grow. A mother cannot take the roles of both mother and father. She feels a child needs would be better met, with both parents in his / her life. Mothers today have grown to become independent women.

Although with this new found freedom their comes the negative. Women can live full lives, with children and a good job without a man to help them through. With this comes the fact that with this rise if freedom comes a rise in divorce, women do not have to stay in damaged relationships but the children miss out on the opportunity of growing up with both a mother and a father.