Marriage is considered to be necessary because?

Appeared in: RUHS, Jaipur, M.Sc Nursing Entrance Exam-2019

Explanation

From a sociological standpoint, marriage is a primary social institution designed to regulate human behavior to ensure social stability.
It provides a formal, socially approved (sanctioned) framework for sexual relationships, which helps prevent conflict and social disruption arising from unregulated sexual competition.
This regulation and sanctioning also confer legitimacy upon children born from the union, integrating them into the social structure with recognized rights and kinship ties.
This option is the most comprehensive as it includes both the act of regulation ('regularized') and the concept of social approval ('socially sanctioned').

Option A: Acquiring property is a legal and economic matter, not the primary sociological reason for marriage. Inheritance is governed by laws that can operate independently of marriage.
Option B: This statement is factually incorrect from a biological and social standpoint. It reduces a complex social institution to a purely biological function and ignores that sexual activity occurs outside of marriage.
Option C: This option is too vague. While marriage does provide societal sanction, it fails to specify what is being sanctioned. The key is that it sanctions a sexual relationship and the resulting family unit.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Sociological functions of marriage as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Understanding social institutions like marriage is crucial for community health. A nurse's awareness of family structures, social norms, and the legitimacy of relationships can impact patient care, especially in areas like maternal-child health, counseling, and social support.
For example, knowing the social context helps in addressing issues like single parenthood, reproductive health choices, and domestic violence with cultural sensitivity.
What if? If a society had no institution of marriage, a nurse might encounter more challenges related to establishing legal next-of-kin for medical decisions, tracking hereditary diseases, and ensuring social and financial support for children.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the core concept of the question, which is the sociological reason for the existence of marriage.
Evaluate each option based on established sociological principles, not personal beliefs or anecdotal evidence.
Eliminate options that are factually incorrect or too narrow. 'Only way' statements are often incorrect generalizations.
Compare the remaining options. Option C ('provides societal sanction') is a part of the answer, but Option D ('regularized and provides socially sanctioned sex gratification') is more specific and complete.
Select the option that provides the most comprehensive and accurate sociological explanation.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 Applied Sociology for Nurses TK Indrani pp. 158-160, 149-151, 159-161

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