Spouse

A spouse is a partner in a marriage.

A man is called a husband. A woman is called a wife.

Rules for marriage change in different lands. Some rules are about money. In some places, families give gifts to each other.

Long ago, many rules were not fair. Men often had more power. They could make many big choices.

Many people worked to change this. Now, many laws say men and women are equal. New laws help make things better for everyone.

People choose partners in many ways. Some people marry for love. Others have marriages set by their families.

A spouse is a partner in a marriage.

A man is called a husband. A woman is called a wife.

Rules for marriage change depending on where people live. These rules are often found in family law. In some places, families exchange money or goods. This might be called a dowry or a bride price.

In the past, many rules were not fair. Men often had more power than women. Men could control property and money. They also made the big choices for their children. Many countries changed these laws in the last century. In 1981, Spain said women did not need permission to go to court. In 1985, Switzerland passed laws for equality in marriage. In 1985, France also changed laws about children's property.

People choose partners in many ways. Some people marry for love. Others have arranged marriages. In some places, it is a crime to force someone to marry. There are also rules about how old a person must be to marry. In 2010, many countries said women must be 18 to marry without help from parents.

A spouse is a person in a marriage. If the spouse is a woman, she is called a wife. If the spouse is a man, he is called a husband.

Different places have different rules for these partners. These rules are found in family law. Some communities use customary marriage instead of civil marriage. In these places, the community helps set the rules. Often, families exchange goods or money during the marriage. People might use terms like bride price or dowry for these gifts.

Rules for spouses often include rights and duties. These rights can cover things like money and property. In many past societies, men held most of the power. They often controlled the family property and inheritance. Men also had the right to make choices for their children. This was very different from the rights given to women. Many of these old rules changed during the twentieth century. Modern laws now try to define duties without looking at gender.

Many countries passed new laws to make things fairer. In 1981, Spain said women did not need a husband's permission for court cases. In 1983, new laws guaranteed equality between spouses. In 1985, Switzerland passed a law for equality in marriage. These new Swiss reforms started in January 1988. France also made changes during this time. In 1965, French women could work without permission. In 1970, men no longer had sole authority over the family. By 1985, husbands could no longer be the only ones to manage children's property.

Some laws still give husbands special authority today. For example, the Civil Code of Iran says the husband is the head of the family. In other places, people can end a marriage through divorce. Some countries only allowed divorce recently. Italy allowed it in 1970, and Portugal in 1975. Brazil started in 1977, and Spain in 1981. Argentina began in 1987, and Paraguay in 1991. Colombia and Ireland followed in 1991 and 1996. Chile and Malta were later in 2004 and 2011.

There are also rules about how old a person can be to marry. In 2010, 158 countries said women must be 18 to marry without parental consent. However, 146 countries allow girls younger than 18 to marry with permission. In 52 of those countries, girls under 15 can marry with consent. For boys, 18 is the legal age without consent in 180 countries. In 105 countries, boys can marry with parental permission. In 23 countries, boys under 15 can marry with permission. People also choose partners in different ways. Some choose love marriages, while others have arranged marriages. In some places, forcing someone to marry is a crime.

A spouse is a significant other person within a marriage. If the spouse is female, she is called a wife. If the spouse is male, he is called a husband.

The legal status of a spouse involves specific rights and obligations. These rules are usually found in family law statutes. In some parts of the world, civil marriage is not common. Instead, people follow customary marriage. This type of marriage is regulated informally by the local community. In these systems, spousal rights often relate to the exchange of goods. These exchanges might include a bride price, a dowry, or a dower.

Historically, many societies treated male and female spouses very differently. Men often held much more power within the marriage. They typically controlled marital property and inheritance rights. Men also often had the right to dictate the activities of children. These rights were rarely given to female partners in the same way. However, these practices changed significantly during the twentieth century. Many modern statutes now define rights and duties without mentioning gender. Laws are moving toward treating both spouses as equals.

Different countries have passed specific laws to achieve this equality. In 1981, Spain abolished the rule that women needed a husband's permission for legal proceedings. In 1983, new legislation guaranteed equality between spouses and abolished the dowry. Switzerland was one of the last European countries to establish full gender equality in marriage. In 1985, a referendum in Switzerland guaranteed legal equality for women. These reforms officially came into force in January 1988. France also saw many changes during this era. In 1965, French women gained the right to work without permission. By 1970, a man's paternal authority over his family ended. Finally, in 1985, a reform stopped husbands from having sole power over children's property.

Despite these changes, some marriage laws still grant authority to husbands. For example, Article 1105 of the Civil Code of Iran states the husband is the head of the family. This is considered an exclusive right of the husband. In other jurisdictions, the inability to perform marital obligations can lead to divorce. This might also lead to legal separation or an annulment. In many Roman Catholic countries, divorce was introduced quite late. Italy allowed it in 1970, and Portugal in 1975. Brazil introduced it in 1977, and Spain in 1981. Argentina began in 1987, and Paraguay in 1991. Colombia and Ireland followed in 1991 and 1996. Chile and Malta were the latest, in 2004 and 2011.

Marriage dissolution can be complicated by the exchange of goods between families. This is common in places where marriages are arranged. If a woman wants to leave a marriage, it may be difficult. In some parts of Africa, a wife may be seen as belonging to the husband's family once a bride price is paid. If she leaves, the husband may demand the bride price back. Often, the girl's family cannot or does not want to pay this amount. These customs can make it hard for people to exit a marriage.

There are also international standards regarding the minimum age for marriage. According to the United Nations Population Fund, rules vary by country. In 2010, 158 countries reported that 18 was the minimum age for women to marry without consent. However, 146 countries allow girls younger than 18 to marry with parental permission. In 52 of those countries, girls under 15 can marry with consent. For males, 18 is the legal age without consent in 180 countries. Still, 105 countries allow boys to marry with parental authority. In 23 countries, boys under 15 can marry with parental consent.

Spouses also face different social expectations regarding procreation. In Western countries, some spouses choose not to have children. In other regions, there are greater expectations for couples to procreate. In northern Ghana, for example, the payment of a bride signifies a requirement to bear children. In such areas, women using birth control may face threats or coercion. Finally, the way a spouse is chosen varies greatly. Some people enter love marriages, while others enter arranged marriages. Forced marriage is different and is a criminal offense in some countries. In those jurisdictions, such a marriage may be considered void or voidable.