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When women had no ability to support themselves, marriage was all that stood between them and being indigent. It means less than that in modern societies today, which isn't bad.
Thousands of years ago, at least in some societies, it was basically transferring ownership of a girl from parents to husband.
A few hundred years ago, in the upper middle class often marriage was basically arranging procreation with someone of a suitable caste and then adultery once the kids were of a certain age.
Single motherhood wasn't viable for much of history, and with contraception risky and paternity testing nonexistent, marriage was a way of managing it. Your wife's baby? You're presumed to be the father, you have to support it.
Thousands of years ago, at least in some societies, it was basically transferring ownership of a girl from parents to husband.
A few hundred years ago, in the upper middle class often marriage was basically arranging procreation with someone of a suitable caste and then adultery once the kids were of a certain age.
Single motherhood wasn't viable for much of history, and with contraception risky and paternity testing nonexistent, marriage was a way of managing it. Your wife's baby? You're presumed to be the father, you have to support it.
