2. What is an “unconventional
relationship”?
Today, we are used to marriages involving one
man and one woman who love each other and
live in the same place. However, there are
many other types of relationships that are not
“conventional” or usual. If a relationship is
unusual, or strange we might call it an
“unconventional relationship”.
3. Opening Discussion
• What is a “conventional relationship” like?
• What is the normal way for a man and woman
to be married?
• Can you think of some people you know that
are in a marriage or relationship that you
think is a little bit strange?
4. Arranged Marriage
An arranged marriage is a practice in which
someone other than the couple getting
married makes the selection of the persons
to be wed, meanwhile curtailing or avoiding
the process of courtship. Such marriages had
deep roots in royal and aristocratic families
around the world. Arranged marriages are
usually seen in Indian, traditional European
and African cultures, especially among
royalty, and are usually decided by the
parents or an older family member. The
match could be selected by parents, a
matchmaking agent, matrimonial site, or a
trusted third party.
5. Shotgun Wedding
A shotgun wedding is a form of forced
marriage occasioned by an unplanned
pregnancy. Some religions and cultures
consider it a moral imperative to marry in
such a situation, based on reasoning that
premarital sex or out-of-wedlock births are
sinful, sanctioned by law, or otherwise
stigmatized. The phrase is from American
English, though it is also used in other parts
of the world.
It is based on a scenario in which the
pregnant female's father resorts to coercion
(such as threatening with a shotgun) to
ensure that the male partner who caused
the female's pregnancy goes through with
it, sometimes even following the man to
the altar to prevent his escape.
6. Mail-order bride
A Mail-order bride is a woman who lists herself in
catalogs (online or otherwise) and is selected by
men for marriage. Although historically mail-order
brides came from well-developed areas to marry
men in overseas colonies and frontier lands, the
trend has reversed. Recently, the trend is towards
women living in developing countries seeking men
in more-developed countries.
Since the collapse of the Soviet Union large
numbers of eastern European women have
advertised themselves in such a way, primarily
from Russia, Belarus, Ukraine and Moldova. Men
who list themselves in such publications are
referred to as "mail-order husbands". Mail-order
husbands come from primarily (in alphabetical
order) Australia, Canada, Germany, Japan,
Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, United Kingdom
and the United States.
7. What do you think?
• What do you think of arranged marriages?
What would be the advantages and
disadvantages of such a relationship?
• Have you ever heard of a “shotgun wedding”
before? What do you think about this idea?
• Would you ever consider becoming a “mail-
order bride/husband”?
8. Open marriage
Open marriage typically refers to a marriage
in which the partners agree that each may
engage in extramarital sexual relationships,
without this being regarded as cheating.
There are many different styles of open
marriage (such as swinging and polyamory),
each with the partners having varying levels
of input on their spouse's activities. Open
marriages place high value on honesty,
especially of needs and wants.
In the developed world, open marriages are
a rare, but well-known practice. However,
surveys show that large majorities of people
still disapprove of extramarital sexual
activity.
9. Polygamy
Polygamy (from πολύς γάμος polys gamos,
translated literally in Late Greek as "often
married") is a marriage which includes
more than two partners. When a man is
married to more than one wife at a time,
the relationship is called polygyny, and
there is no marriage bond between the
wives; and when a woman is married to
more than one husband at a time, it is
called polyandry, and there is no marriage
bond between the husbands. Polygamy is
commonly accepted in some parts of Asia,
Africa, and the Islamic world.
10. Group marriage
Group marriage, (a form of polyamory) is a
marriage-like arrangement between more
than two people. Usually consisting of three
to six adults, all partners live together, share
finances, children, and household
responsibilities. Depending on the sexual
orientation of the members, all adults in the
family are sexual partners. For instance, if all
members are heterosexual, all the women
have sexual relationships with all the men. If
the women are bisexual, they may have
sexual relationships with the women as well
as the men. And so on. However, this is a
closed system, and sex is only allowed
between (adult, non-related) family
members--no outside sexual relationships are
allowed.
11. What do you think?
• Do you think marriage is necessary?
• What do you think of “open marriages”? Is it a
good way for couples to stay together, or is it
gross?
• Have you ever heard of a “group marriage”?
What kind of people do you think this kind of
relationship is suitable for?
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