Social Science

SCS 100

Theme 2:

Marriage Graphic Organizer

Using the three different representations of marriage presented in the learning block

(

polyandry, arranged marriages,

and walking marriages)

,

fill in the graphic organizer below. In Part A

,

you will have to first identify the biases you have

regardin

g marriage and their influence o

n your perspective of marriage. In Part B, you will then take an objective

stance and discuss

the

advantages and d

isadvantages

of

these types of

marriage.

In Part C, you will

create a question a

social scientist might ask to further the investigation of marriage

.

A)

In this first step, do your best

to

identify three of your biases on marriage due

to

your culture and religion.

The

American culture and le

gal system generally allow

only

one type of marriage. What type of bias does this embed

in us?

The religions that people belong to and practice can also impact their biases toward marriage, depending

on

how their chosen religion defines marriage.

How does this influence your perspective of marriage in general?

How does this bias influence your perspective

on these specific types of

marriage?

Biases

Bias 1:

Bias 2:

Bias 3:

Influence of

the

Biases

B)

While it is impossible

to

“check our culture and biases at the door” and become totally objective, we can

identify our biases (as you

have

already done above) and

try

to

ignore them in order

to

consider other points

of

view.

In this next

step, take a culturally relativistic standpoint (in other words

, try

to

overcome your biases)

and consider the tenets

of

each type of marriage. Why might these other forms of marriage be more successful

or advantageous in certain contexts than the Western

concept of marria

ge (based on love and monogamy)?

Then, from that same culturally relativistic standpoint, also consider some possible drawbacks to these forms

of marriage.

Type of Marriage

Advantages

Drawbacks

Polyandry

Arranged Marriages

SCS 100 Theme 2: Marriage Graphic Organizer

Using the three different representations of marriage presented in the learning block (polyandry, arranged marriages,

and walking marriages), fill in the graphic organizer below. In Part A, you will have to first identify the biases you have

regarding marriage and their influence on your perspective of marriage. In Part B, you will then take an objective

stance and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of these types of marriage. In Part C, you will create a question a

social scientist might ask to further the investigation of marriage.

A) In this first step, do your best to identify three of your biases on marriage due to your culture and religion. The

American culture and legal system generally allow only one type of marriage. What type of bias does this embed

in us? The religions that people belong to and practice can also impact their biases toward marriage, depending

on how their chosen religion defines marriage. How does this influence your perspective of marriage in general?

How does this bias influence your perspective on these specific types of marriage?

Biases

Bias 1:

Bias 2:

Bias 3:

Influence of

the Biases

B) While it is impossible to “check our culture and biases at the door” and become totally objective, we can

identify our biases (as you have already done above) and try to ignore them in order to consider other points

of view. In this next step, take a culturally relativistic standpoint (in other words, try to overcome your biases)

and consider the tenets of each type of marriage. Why might these other forms of marriage be more successful

or advantageous in certain contexts than the Western concept of marriage (based on love and monogamy)?

Then, from that same culturally relativistic standpoint, also consider some possible drawbacks to these forms

of marriage.

Type of Marriage Advantages Drawbacks

Polyandry

Arranged Marriages