John Stuart Mill called marriage the first political institution most of us enter as adults. In a book that is always witty, often startling, and deadly serious, E. J. Graff traces the history of this institution, from a feminist perspective, illuminating the many forms it has taken, arguing forcefully for the legalization of same-sex marriage, and shedding new light on such ongoing battles as equality between wives and husbands and the contentious definition of "family." Each chapter--Money, Sex, Babies, Kin, Order, and ...
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John Stuart Mill called marriage the first political institution most of us enter as adults. In a book that is always witty, often startling, and deadly serious, E. J. Graff traces the history of this institution, from a feminist perspective, illuminating the many forms it has taken, arguing forcefully for the legalization of same-sex marriage, and shedding new light on such ongoing battles as equality between wives and husbands and the contentious definition of "family." Each chapter--Money, Sex, Babies, Kin, Order, and Heart--examines a crucial aspect of this personal and political bond, sifting through the ways Old Testament Hebrews, Catholic theologians, Protestant reformers, nineteenth-century utopians, and people in our day define marriage. Graff reveals that marriage is something surprising and strange--and, right-wing moralizing notwithstanding, not very traditional at all. For instance, marriage wasn't declared a sacrament in the Catholic Church until 1215. Among Roman aristocrats, wedding pledges were exchanged by the groom and his father-in-law. And the "crime against nature" once meant contraception. This passionate and often personal search for the meaning of marriage argues that marriage has always been a social battleground, shifting constantly to suit each economy, each era and each class. The Washington Post Book World: "(Graff's) first- person interjecti turn what could have been a dry textbook into a lively personal examination of what it means to choose a life partner (regardless of age or sex)." The San Francisco Chronicle: "With the patience of a saint, and the wit and wisdom of that favorite professor at college, Graff Shows in What is MarriageFor? how and why marriage in the 20th Century is about love, money, social justice, stable homes for adults and children and constitutional democracy...all who are caught up in the same-sex marriage debate will find Graff's book invaluable."
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Add this copy of What is Marriage for? : the Strange Social History of to cart. $1.49, good condition, Sold by Open Books Ltd rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Chicago, IL, UNITED STATES, published 2004 by Beacon Press.
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Add this copy of What is Marriage for? the Strange Social History of Our to cart. $3.74, very good condition, Sold by HPB-Ruby rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Dallas, TX, UNITED STATES, published 2000 by Beacon Press.
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Add this copy of What is Marriage for? to cart. $4.48, very good condition, Sold by ThriftBooks-Baltimore rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Halethorpe, MD, UNITED STATES, published 2004 by Beacon Press.
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Add this copy of What is Marriage for? : the Strange Social History of to cart. $4.50, very good condition, Sold by HPB-Movies rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Dallas, TX, UNITED STATES, published 2004 by Beacon Press.
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Very good. Connecting readers with great books since 1972! Used books may not include companion materials, and may have some shelf wear or limited writing. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority!
Add this copy of What is Marriage for? : the Strange Social History of to cart. $4.50, good condition, Sold by HPB Inc. rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Dallas, TX, UNITED STATES, published 2004 by Beacon Press.
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Good. Connecting readers with great books since 1972! Used books may not include companion materials, and may have some shelf wear or limited writing. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority!
Add this copy of What is Marriage for? : the Strange Social History of to cart. $5.13, very good condition, Sold by Suffolk Books rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from center moriches, NY, UNITED STATES, published 2004 by Beacon Press.
Add this copy of What is Marriage for? the Strange Social History of Our to cart. $5.15, very good condition, Sold by Wonder Book - Member ABAA/ILAB rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Frederick, MD, UNITED STATES, published 2000 by Beacon Press (MA).
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Very Good. Very Good condition. A copy that may have a few cosmetic defects. May also contain light spine creasing or a few markings such as an owner's name, short gifter's inscription or light stamp. Bundled media such as CDs, DVDs, floppy disks or access codes may not be included.
Add this copy of What is Marriage for? to cart. $5.47, very good condition, Sold by ThriftBooks-Baltimore rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Halethorpe, MD, UNITED STATES, published 1999 by Beacon Press (MA).
Add this copy of What is Marriage for? to cart. $5.48, very good condition, Sold by Book Alley rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Pasadena, CA, UNITED STATES, published 1999 by Beacon Press.
