We talk to political philosopher Clare Chambers about marriage as a political institution. How does it reflect the power of the state? How does it alter power relations between individuals? Should everyone be allowed to get married or should we move away from marriage altogether? A fresh, radical look at something we often take for granted.
Talking Points:
What makes marriage political?
Most of the clear legal inequalities in marriage have been reformed in contemporary Britain, but there is still significant practical and symbolic inequality.
When the state recognizes marriage, it is endorsing, or affirming the position of being married.
Why are we so drawn to marriage?
When it comes to protecting children, it might make more sense to focus on parenthood than marriage.
Further Learning:
And as ever, recommended reading curated by our friends at the LRB can be found here: lrb.co.uk/talking
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