Drawing on your readings from the semester, explain the ways in which ideals and practices of
marriage in the U.S. are similar to, and different from, those in other cultures as well as how our
ideals differ from our practices. Introduce your argument in the first paragraph and summarize
your conclusions in the fifth paragraph.Your essay should have three body paragraphs. In
the first paragraph, provide two or more specific examples of commonalities between ideals or
practices of marriage in the U.S. relative to those in the cultures we read about for class. In the
second paragraph, provide two or more specific examples of how ideals or practices of marriage
differ in other cultures that we read about compared to the U.S. AND provide a reason for why
those difference exist, such as specific environmental, economic, or social considerations that
contribute to these differences. In the third body paragraph, discuss two or more ways in which
we as humans struggle to meet our ideals of marriage in practice, drawing on specific examples
from our readings and/or films and in-class discussions.
Additionally, properly utilize the concepts: Three of the following concepts: companionate
marriage, polyandry, polygyny, matrilineal, patrilineal, neolocal, matrilocal, patrilocal, or
(non-)monogamous in your essay. Your use of these terms should demonstrate that you
understand their meanings and how to apply them in this context. They should also be discussed
accurately in relation to the specific culture in which they are practiced (or not practiced).
In your Essays you must strive to suspend your ethnocentrism and practice cultural relativism.
