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From France to Iran: How does husband's power in marriage change over time?
Marriage is one of the oldest institutions in human society, and in this institution, spouses usually play a vital role. Over time, marriage norms and the rights and obligations of spouses have changed significantly around the world. In particular, the husband's power in marriage has been re-evaluated, gradually shifting from the absolute dominance of the past to a more equal relationship.
In many cultures, the husband has traditionally controlled the ownership and resources of the family, and this has continued to a considerable degree for centuries.
In Western countries, the law generally recognizes the equal rights of spouses. For example, a referendum in Switzerland in 1985 finally ensured legal equality for women in marriage. This reform officially came into effect in 1988, symbolizing a new era in the country's marriage laws.
In France, women first gained the right to work without their husband's consent in 1965. In 1970, patriarchy ended, meaning that fathers no longer had full control over the family. However, it was not until 1985 that France completely abolished the law that only the husband managed the children's property, which was an important legal progress at the time.
Despite this, laws in many regions around the world still grant certain rights to husbands. For example, Article 1105 of Iran's Civil Code clearly states that "in the relationship between husband and wife, the position of head of the family is the exclusive right of the husband."
This situation still exists in many cultures, especially in countries with strong religious or traditional laws. Expectations placed on couples are often based on long-standing social structures that lead to inequalities between couples. For example, in some African communities, after the bride price is paid, the wife is considered the property of her husband and his family. If she wishes to leave, the husband will often demand a refund of the price paid to her family, which makes her options extremely limited. .
With the changes in society, many ethnic groups have extremely obvious expectations for childbirth. Particularly in Western countries, spouses sometimes choose not to have children, while in some areas pressure and expectations are placed on heterosexual couples to have children. In northern Ghana, paying the bride price implies that a woman must have a child, and women who use contraceptive methods risk threats and coercion.
In many countries, marriage options are diverse, including love marriages, arranged marriages, and forced marriages. Forced marriages are even considered invalid or voidable marriages in some countries.
Although many countries have banned forced marriage, in practice, the problem still exists. Different cultural backgrounds and local religious beliefs often affect the relationship between husband and wife, and equal marriage rights have not yet been fully realized in some places.
In addition, local laws regarding the legal age for marriage also affect the power structure in marriage. According to the United Nations Population Fund, about 158 countries set the legal age of marriage for women at 18 years old, but 146 countries allow girls to marry under the age of 18 with the authorization of their parents or relevant institutions. In different cultures, men and women often have different marriage ages and requirements, which makes gender roles and power structures in marriage complex.
With the evolution of laws and social concepts, the power of the husband in marriage has been challenged with the progress of society in many countries. However, there are still many places where true gender equality has not yet been achieved, and the power of husbands still exists in some cultures and affects women's quality of life.
As global awareness of gender equality continues to increase, people cannot help but wonder: How will the power structure between couples evolve again in future marriages?
