Purpose of Marriage – JSS2 Social Studies Lesson Note (First Term)

Marriage is the union of a man and a woman that establishes a family. It serves purposes such as planning and progress, procreation, partnership, pleasure, psychological needs, and protection and security. Couples should be ready for it physically, psychologically, socially and financially. Challenges such as unfaithfulness and poor communication can be overcome with forgiveness, love, fidelity and respect.

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

• state the purposes of marriage;
• list the conditions for marriage;
• explain the importance of marriage in society;
• identify problems and challenges in marriage;
• state the effects of lack of readiness on a marriage relationship;
• suggest solutions to challenges in marriage.

What are the purposes of marriage?

1. For planning and progress
2. For a purposeful and fulfilled life
3. For procreation
4. For partnership
5. For pleasure
6. For psychological needs
7. For protection and security

What are the conditions for marriage?

The following are some of the conditions for marriage:

1. Physical maturity
2. Psychological maturity
3. Sociological stability
4. Financial readiness

Why is marriage important in society?

1. Reduces immoral practices in society: Marriage reduces indiscriminate sexual relationships. It provides couples the opportunity to satisfy themselves sexually.
2. Establishes family members: Through marriage a family is established. The man, his wife and their children make a family.
3. Gives couples respect and recognition: A married man or woman is seen as a responsible person. Society gives greater respect to those who are married.
4. Helps in preserving social values, beliefs and culture: Marriage produces a family and provides a medium through which societal values are passed to the next generation through the process of socialisation.

What problems and challenges can affect marriage?

1. Unfaithfulness: Couples must be faithful to their marital vows. An extra-marital affair is a form of unfaithfulness that has scattered many homes.
2. Infertility: This causes childlessness in the family. Unless there is strong marital understanding between the couple, it could destroy a happy home.
3. Absence of male children: Some families have broken up because of the absence of a male child, even where there was no barrenness. This happens in families that recognise and value male children more than female children.
4. Communication gap: This brings disaffection to the home.
5. Intruder activities: When couples allow parents, in-laws and friends to interfere in their family issues, they are likely to run into trouble.
6. Lack of respect and love for each other: When couples fail to respect themselves, this creates a lot of problems in the home.

What are the effects of lack of readiness on a marriage relationship?

1. Constant misunderstanding
2. Poverty
3. Problematic children
4. Separation or divorce

How can couples solve challenges in marriage?

1. Forgiveness
2. Demonstration of true love
3. Fidelity
4. Maturity and openness in financial matters
5. Respect and co-operation
6. Resist third-party influence
7. Set aside time for communication
8. Readiness to accommodate each other’s weaknesses

Evaluation

1. State any four purposes of marriage.
2. List the four conditions for marriage given in this lesson.
3. Explain two ways in which marriage is important in society.
4. Mention three problems that can affect a marriage.
5. State four effects of lack of readiness on a marriage relationship.

Assignment

1. Explain any two problems in marriage.
2. State any four solutions to challenges in marriage.