Marriage

Marriage is a legal, social, and religious relationship between individuals which has formed the foundation of the family for most societies. Historically, marriage has been a social contract between a man (husband) and a woman (wife). Polygamy has been a common variation in some cultures, usually in the form of polygyny (a man taking several wives) but occasionally in the form of polyandry (a woman taking several husbands). In some western societies today, same-sex marriage is recognized as a variant.

Same-sex marriage

:Main article: Same-sex marriage

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Although same-sex unions have been recorded in the history of a number of cultures, marriages between same-sex partners were rare or nonexistent in most of those cultures. Today, legally sanctioned marriages are still generally conducted between heterosexual couples, although there are countries that recognize same-sex marriage, including the Netherlands, Belgium, Canada, and Spain; in the United States same-sex marriage is legal in the state of Massachusetts. "Civil unions" are recognized in Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Greenland, Iceland, Germany, France, Portugal, New Zealand, United Kingdom and the U.S. states of Vermont and Connecticut; a growing number of American states and various localities, such as Maine, recognize domestic partnerships, which offer parity of spousal rights, to different degrees, with marriage.

Related Topics:
Same-sex marriage - The Netherlands - Belgium - Canada - Spain - United States - Massachusetts - Denmark - Norway - Sweden - Finland - Greenland - Iceland - Germany - France - Portugal - New Zealand - United Kingdom - Vermont - Connecticut - Maine - Domestic partnership

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