Changing Marriage Patterns 

The world is changing, it has reached to industrial society from pre-industrial societies. The advancement in technology, urbanization, industrialization, law, and education is leading to a change in patterns of marriage throughout the world.

The following are the changing marriage patterns experienced in many Nepalese societies and somewhere in the world too.

Change in the form of marriage:

Due to the advancement and development, the traditional form of marriage is not practiced (Polygamy, Polyandry) or strictly prohibited. Peoples are giving priority to monogamous marriages as they have lots of advantages and is universally practiced.

Change in the economic role of women:

In earlier societies, women did not have much economic role as they were dependent on their families. But, today women have achieved great economic independence ie; they have become property owners, got a qualitative education, and become leaders leading to change in the pattern of marriage.

Change in the age of marriage:

In earlier societies, there were no so many laws, rules, and regulations which led to child marriage as there was no particular age for marriage. But today child marriage is completely forbidden by law and a boy below 21 years and a girl below 18 years cannot marry without their parent‘s consent.

Remarriage:

Nowadays, we can see lots of cases of divorce leading to remarriage. Males seem to remarry more often as compared to the females and widowed or divorced men often marry women considerably younger than they are.

Delayed Marriage:

Nowadays, people do not have a hurry for marriage. Firstly, they want to get a good education and want to make their career good, then only they think of marriage.

In earlier societies, women were expected to marry after completing their high school but nowadays women are exploring themselves. Because of this people generally marry late.

Cohabitation:

Compared to earlier societies, nowadays people seem to be very practical regarding the issue of marriage. Cohabitation is a situation or we can say a contract in which a couple lives together involving an emotional as well as a sexually intimate relationship without officially getting married.

If they are compatible with each other they will get married in the future and if not compatible they will not. For eg: Living relationship.

Similarly,

• Polygyny Marriage