About the devaluation of the meaning concerning the marriage institution in the post-modern society

Abstract

Both in the media and sociology it is said that the present society is characterised by a specific state of culture described as post-modernism. The expert on this subject claims the post-modern society is characterised by freedom, variety and tolerance. It is seen in radical breaking with historical continuity, deconstruction and destroying traditional class, economic and social hierarchy. They seem to be clear in full predominance of items as well as consumer goods over people, too big intensification of the nation of the individual, displacing human relationship by simulation, replacing culture with the idea of hyperreality in which there are a picture, performance, image or sign play. Needless to say, all of these things also come down to marriage and family. It is crucial to stress the Poles still value the marriage as the institution giving the foundation of the family union. It is seen in a lot of sociological research and statistic data concerning the idea of getting married or simply accepting it as a sacrament. Moreover, the research points how much the Polish people prefer this traditional form of the family life. However, it does not correspond to reality because it has been observed that there is a certain tendency to fall in terms of making the legal relationship of marriage and more and more often functioning the individuals in such relationships as DINKS or LAT in which partners concentrate only on themselves; a divorce and separation increase which is seen not in terms of trauma any more but in the sense of the right to dignified life; intensification of the idea of cohabitation as the alternative form of the family life in which two people make decision freely and in a responsible way; sadly in the Polish society the idea of single life focusig only on themselves is becoming more and more common. Undoubtedly, it shows the marriage devaluation as the traditional form of life. Taking all of these points into account, one can conclude the claim about the family breakdown among the Poles.