Elizabeth Brake’s Minimizing Marriage breaks new ground in the contemporary liberal critique of traditional arrangements. The object of her critique is what she calls amatonormativity””the belief that society should value two-person, amorous love relationships. Even same-sex marriage (SSM) advocates are too restrictive for Brake in that they would confer benefits on two people alone; SSM advocates are unwitting amatonormativists. Their defenses of marriage leave out “urban tribes, best friends, quirkyalones, polyamorists” and other diverse groups united by a common bond of caring. Brake argues for an almost complete disestablishment of marriage.
Brake’s argument for minimal marriage is both destructive and constructive. Rather than propose that we abolish marriage, Brake contends that we free ourselves of any demand that marriage have an approved form. Yet Brake’s minimal marriage does not abolish the function of marriage, though she thins out that function considerably. After attacking traditional normative beliefs about marriage, she constructs a new vision of marriage as an institution that fulfills, broadly speaking, the function of caring. States, in her view, should recognize and provide benefits to caring relationships.
Sounds like she has commitment issues.
I can go for Brake’s redefinition of marriage but with one caveat, benefits will be directly proportion to the commitment and responsibilities with the relationship. No commitment but personal autonomy, no responsibilities to other partner must result in no benefit or right of recognition but the state or by others if they chose. If Blake wants nothing she gets nothing even if things go south as in death or disillusion.
I admit using some absurdity to her absurd argument. but I a tired of the like of her and the same sex marriage want to redefine marriage by removing the responsibility of such relationship like fidelity but wanting all the benefits
Why have words at all! Who’s to say what anything should mean to anybody else!
I wonder why she hates women and children so much?