In today's culture, marriages face several unique challenges, including high rates of divorce changing gender roles, and the increasing demands of work and family life, especially for ne
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HO CHI MINH CITY UNIVERSITY OF FOREIGN LANGUAGES AND
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (HUFLIT)
+++++
FACULTY OF FOREIGN LANGUAGES
Topic: THE WAYS TO MAINTAIN THE MARRIAGE IN TODAY”S
CULTURE
Student: TRẦN THU PHƯƠNG
Student code: 21DH713867
Supervisor: M.A NGUYỄN THỊ BẠCH YẾN
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Abstract
This research paper was to examine how maintaining a strong
marriage in today's culture can be challenging, but it is possible Marriage is a complex and dynamic relationship that requires
ongoing effort and attention to maintain In today's culture,
marriages face several unique challenges, including high rates of divorce changing gender roles, and the increasing demands of
work and family life, especially for newlywed couples However, there are several things that couples can do to strengthen their marriage and build a lasting relationship Couples could enhance communication, develop closeness, and lay a solid relationship
foundation by paying attention to the advice given above It's also critical to keep in mind the particular difficulties that modern
couples encounter, like the shifting roles of men and women in
society and the mounting pressures of both job and family life
Couples can create a long-lasting and happy marriage by being
aware of these difficulties and working together to overcome them
So, we can see that marriage is a lifelong journey, and it is
important to remember that there will be ups and downs along the way By being aware of challenges and working together to
overcome them, couples can build a lasting and fulfilling marriage Keywords: marriage, couples, build, relationship, culture,
challenges
Trang 4I INTRODUCTION
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people called spouses that creates kinship Andre Maurois fi2019) said that: “A happy marriage is a long conversation which always seems to be short” It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships,
usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found Almost all people believe that marriage is a lifelong commitment between two people to love, honor, and cherish each other through good
times and bad It is a sacred union that is celebrated in many
cultures around the world However, today, marriage is facing
several challenges including a rising divorce rate, did you know that according to data from Dai Doan Ket newspaper, the number of
equivalent to 0.75 cases/per 1000 people? The rate of divorce is 4 couples who register the marriage, 1 couple goes to court Next,
changing cultural norms: marriage is no longer seen as the only
acceptable path to happiness and fulfillment And increased stress and demands on couples: couples today face more stress than ever before, from work and family obligations to financial pressures
Another challenge facing couples today is the increasing work and family life demands In many cases, both spouses work full-time,
which can leave them that are little time and energy for their
relationship Despite these challenges, there are several things that
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Trang 5couples can do to maintain their marriages One of the most
important factors is communication Couples need to be able to
communicate openly and honestly about their needs, wants, and expectations Additionally, couples need to make time for each
other, even if it is just for a few minutes each day This research
paper will explore the challenges and opportunities of maintaining a marriage in today’s culture Drawing on the latest research the
author will identify key factors essential for a successful marriage: Understand that controversy is not a competition, acknowledge your spouse's feelings, and communicate We will discuss specific
strategies that couples can use to nurture these factors and build a strong and lasting relationship
Il MAIN CONTENT
2.1 The current status and definition of marriage for
married couples today
Devi fi2005) said, “For me, when | got married, | want to be happy and | believe everyone has the same intention when they decide to get married, having a comfortable life, sharing with the loved one in good and bad time, and having someone to take care of me” The institution of marriage is dynamic and multifaceted, the status and meaning of marriage today are reflections of the shifting social
norms and values Marriage is still a common institution even
Trang 6though the number of marriages has decreased recently Over time, marriage expectations have also changed According to Elizabeth fi2004):
A century fior even a couple of generations) ago, marriage was
a stable economic and social union that, for the most part,
lasted for the joint lives of the spouses It was the only option for a socially sanctioned intimate relationship and was the
setting in which most children were raised Today, when about
40 percent of marriages end in divorce, marriage is a less
stable relationship than it once was
Nowadays, marriage is more frequently perceived as a personal
decision than it was in the past when it was considered a social and economic must Today's couples have higher expectations for their marriages, both practically and emotionally They aspire to be equal partners in all aspects of life, contributing equally to family, career, and housework duties The meaning of marriage is changing as time goes on, and young married couples’ definitions of marriage today are no different An increasing focus is being placed on individual autonomy and choice in defining what marriage means to each
partner, even though the traditional definition of marriage is still a legally recognized union between two people Nowadays, a lot of young married couples see marriage as more than just starting a family or creating a life together Finding a mate who supports and loves them without conditions and who shares their values and
aspirations is also important Additionally, young married couples are more likely to see marriage as an equal partnership and to place
Trang 7a higher priority on their respective hobbies and jobs There can be challenges and opportunities on the journey that is marriage Even though individuals nowadays have greater options when choosing a life spouse, this cannot guarantee an enjoyable relationship Their relationship could face conflicts, difficulties, and challenges Even while marriage continues to be popular, married couples nowadays confront many difficulties Discord in the marriage may arise when these difficulties are exaggerated Couples and the family may be greatly impacted by divorce, which can have several negative
consequences
2.2 Causes of disharmony in marriage
Marital disharmony is a normal part of married life When two people come together in marriage, each partner comes into the union with their individualized personal characteristics, needs, attitudes,
values, and idiosyncrasies fiJwe, 2006) No matter how successful their marriage is, every couple is going to have arguments,
misunderstandings, and conflicts You will unavoidably select a
particular group of solid issues that you will live with for the duration
of your life when you decide to marry a certain individual Nobody thinks nasty arguments, continual conflict, and nightly arguments before bed to be signs of a happy marriage How long could you
endure when the place that should be your haven from the everyday grind and a place to find calm is more stressful than your worst day
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Trang 8at work? In a happy marriage, your partner becomes both your rock and your biggest supporter throughout challenging times All of
them are marital conflicts Marital conflict is a lot more than just an argument Rather, it is a set of events that have been controlled in such a way that they severely damaged the married relationship Marriage problems have gotten so serious that stubbornness, pride, anger, hurt, and bitterness are impeding meaningful
communication Marriage conflicts, in my view, frequently arise from selfishness, where one person demands to have their own way
While it is natural for people to have personal preferences,
prioritizing one's self-interest has a negative impact on marriages Expecting a partnership to succeed if one member always gets their way is impractical Couples must learn to let go of their self-interest for their marriage to succeed Sacrificing for the sake of the
relationship becomes an opportunity for joy rather than a burden over time It is not, however, about always giving in and never
asserting one's desires When partners respectfully share and
discuss their hobbies, they show a willingness to give up while
cooperatively finding the greatest solutions for the marriage Marital disagreement is an essential aspect of any relationship, but it can have significant consequences if not tackled properly
2.3 Consequences of marital incompatibility
Trang 9Let us first analyze each level of marital conflict impact, from mild to serious One of the most common consequences of marital
disagreement is mental stress Couples that have regular or serious conflict may suffer a range of negative emotions, including anger, sadness, anxiety, and depression These feelings can have a
negative impact on both mental and physical health, causing
insomnia, headaches, and stomachaches Problems with
communication are another common consequence of marital
conflict Couples who are fighting may find it challenging to
communicate well This might result in misunderstandings,
resentment, and additional conflict Couples that have
communication issues may find it difficult to overcome their issues and build a solid relationship According to Martin fi2018):
One of the most important determinants of marital dynamics is family communication patterns The importance of attention to communication patterns is not only more effective on marital satisfaction, but also the changing of communication patterns
in comparison with other factors affecting marital
incompatibility, such as personality traits and social and
economic factors are practical
Couples who have regular or serious conflictslare more likely to be uncomfortable in their relationship The advent of this frustration and disagreement in life increases the likelihood of committing
infidelity and exaggerated relationships fikordbache,2018) They might feel less loved, respected, and respected Although there are cases where the decision to divorce will bring positivity to the lives
Trang 10of family members and people involved, divorce caused by conflicts and differences within a couple's relationship is a very unfortunate thing that sometimes causes them to miss out on and lose important things in their lives
2.4 Ways to maintain the marriage
2.4.1 Understand that controversy is not a competition
Marriage, as a union of love, companionship, and shared dreams, is
a wonderful and challenging journey Conflicts, which are natural in any relationship, can put the marital bond to the test However,
treating these arguments with a non-competitive viewpoint is
essential for finding solutions that build rather than destroy the
partnership Understanding that marital conflict is a shared effort to address underlying issues is critical to creating a harmonious and fulfilling connection You don’t always have to “win” - being right isn’t a measure of winning, if you feel like that is what it takes,
making her cry, getting the last word in over him, shaming,
insulting, or making it personal you're both going to lose
fiDavis,2008) Viewing marital disagreement as a competition can be harmful to the relationship It can foster an aggressive environment
in which partners feel compelled to prove their power or maintain their views at any cost This competitive viewpoint can lead to
anger, defensiveness, and disconnects in communication, making it
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Trang 11more difficult to reach mutually beneficial solutions When couples approach their relationship as a partnership, they recognize that
they are on the same team, working toward common objectives and committed to helping one another through challenges in life This shift in perspective promotes empathy and compassion, allowing partners to perceive the problem from each other's perspectives Compassion helps couples to behave with love, respect, and a
readiness to compromise, whereas empathy allows partners to
comprehend their spouse's feelings, motivations, and concerns
Couples can establish a more collaborative environment for seeking solutions by understanding one another's opinions and tackling
disagreements with an open mind Couples can create a more
collaborative environment for seeking solutions by understanding one another's opinions and addressing disagreements with an open mind Furthermore, recognizing marital conflict as a collaborative effort promotes a growth mindset in which disagreements are
viewed as chances for personal growth and relationship betterment Couples with a growth mentality, rather than lingering on previous mistakes or criticizing each other, focus on learning from the
experience and evolving together They know that arguments can reveal important information about each other's needs,
expectations, and communication styles Couples with a
development perspective are more likely to handle arguments
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