The Institution of Marriage in Armenia from Gender Perspective

Abstract

The study intends to investigate the manifestation of power and patriarchy among Armenian marriage and household traditions and customs which have their role in the process of marginalising women. The construal how the marriage traditions and customs define gender roles and trigger gender inequality in Armenian context is discussed. Culture and society and traditions have an enormous impact on defining gender roles in Armenia. Armenians throughout history have been strongly influenced by cultural messages concerning gender roles and family influence. People both at subconscious or conscious level, take in the cultural perceptions. While the country is going through globalisation processes and becoming more and more exposed to foreign influences, conventional gender stereotypes, and patriarchal systems are still deeply rooted and prevalent in all spheres of social life, and the institution of marriage is one of the most striking among them. The research will illustrate how the culture, through institution of marriage, shapes compound power relations which lead to inequality and marginalisation of Armenian women in domestic sphere. Institution of marriage itself, all over the world, historically has been deeply rooted in patriarchal values, customs and traditions. Despite the fact that nowadays,...