SPP Debate Club 1: 9/20 – 9/25

Colleen Javorina
Marlene Kvitrud

Commenters: Leah H, Meghan L, Karin L, Ali M, Haylie N, Kaitlyn O, Jaime O, Rachel S

Should States Abolish Marriage?
Set aside the question of same-sex marriage for a moment. Assume that the state permitted any consenting adult to marry another consenting adult, regardless of gender identity. Some argue that instead of broadening the institution of civil marriage, the state should do away with it as a legal category and altogether and adopt a universal system of civil unions open to all couples, while leaving marriage to churches, mosques, and synagogues. Others contend that marriage, as a civil institution, is an important component of our social structure and maintain that its elimination would have serious and detrimental consequences for society. Note: this is not a debate about same-sex marriage. This is a debate about whether the state should sanction any marriages.

  • BeyondMarriage.org, “Beyond Same-Sex Marriage”
  • Claudia Card, “Against Marriage and Motherhood”
  • Center for Marriage and Families, “The Marriage Movement: A Statement of Principles”
  • Center for Marriage and Families, “Why Marriage Matters”
  • Center for Marriage and Families, “Can Government Strengthen Marriage?”
  • Stephanie Coontz, “Taking Marriage Private”
  • Mary Lyndon Shanley, “Just Marriage”
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