--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What is marriage anymore, anyway? How is…" description: "\"“What is marriage anymore, anyway? How is the institution structured? What assumptions do we bring to it? Is it an irreducible economic unit, in which ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c1d/carina-chocano-19248_birth-control_what-is-marriage-anymore-anyway-how-is-t_990825.jpg" --- # What is marriage anymore, anyway? How is the institution… ![“What is marriage anymore, anyway? How is the institution structured? What assumptions do we bring to it? Is it an irreducible economic unit, in which production and labor remain distributed along traditional lines (the model of husband as protector and breadwinner and wife as 'angel in the house,'…” quote by Carina Chocano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c1d/carina-chocano-19248_birth-control_what-is-marriage-anymore-anyway-how-is-t_990825.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c1d/carina-chocano-19248_birth-control_what-is-marriage-anymore-anyway-how-is-t_990825.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c1d/carina-chocano-19248_birth-control_what-is-marriage-anymore-anyway-how-is-t_990825.jpg) > ““What is marriage anymore, anyway? How is the institution structured? What assumptions do we bring to it? Is it an irreducible economic unit, in which production and labor remain distributed along traditional lines (the model of husband as protector and breadwinner and wife as 'angel in the house,' domestic goddess, and nurturer)? Or is it a spiritual, intellectual, artistic, and social partnership - a lifelong collaboration, a project, a constant becoming? Is it what patriarchal society said it is, or what Hollywood pretended it was? What does it mean to be a modern woman? Where does a woman's 'modern-ness' reside? In what she looks like, how she acts, what she does, wears, or says? Or is it somewhere else entirely outside of her, in a larger system that allows her to be a whole, free person? that represents her as such? that allows her to represent herself? that recognizes her individuality and subjectivity? Is it about things like voting and birth control, the issues that Katharine Hepburn's mother devoted her life to fighting for? Is it about wearing pants, not aiming to please, sleeping around, and not getting married, like Katharine Hepburn did? Is it about smoking Virginia Slims? Is it not perhaps all and none of these things but the fact that we keep having to make a case for our personhood? Is it not the story that needs to be reframed? the heroine who needs to be allowed to create herself, from scratch?”” [Carina Chocano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carina-chocano/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Marriage is a complex, evolving partnership shaped by cultural, economic, and personal expectations, demanding continual redefinition. **In simple terms:** Marriage is evolving. Key Takeaway Define your partnership on your terms. Themes marriage gender identity society individuality Mood critical contemplative Type analytical philosophical When to use this quote - dating - legal rights - family planning - career - self‑definition Key Concepts feminism social contract personal autonomy Questions to Reflect On - What does a modern partnership look like for you? - How can you balance tradition and personal autonomy? A Different Perspective Traditional models may limit personal freedom. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Birth control](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/birth-control/) [Getting married](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/getting-married/) [Hepburn Did](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hepburn-did-2028131/) [Katharine Hepburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/katharine-hepburn/) [Marriage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marriage/) [Marriage Anymore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marriage-anymore-1315558/) [Modern woman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/modern-woman/) [Patriarchal society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patriarchal-society/) [Sleeping around](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sleeping-around/) [Somewhere else](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/somewhere-else/) [Woman Modern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/woman-modern-2028130/) ## Related quotes > [If only I could step back into the time of old movies, if only I could be given the opportunity to do what Katharine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kari-matchett/if-only-i-could-step-back-into-the-time-of-old-movies-if-only-i-could/) [Kari Matchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kari-matchett/) > [The modern woman has a modern life, and most of us work. 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Is it an irreducible economic unit, in which production and labor remain distributed along traditional lines (the model of husband as protector and breadwinner and wife as 'angel in the house,' domestic goddess, and nurturer)? Or is it a spiritual, intellectual, artistic, and social partnership - a lifelong collaboration, a project, a constant becoming? Is it what patriarchal society said it is, or what Hollywood pretended it was? What does it mean to be a modern woman? Where does a woman's 'modern-ness' reside? In what she looks like, how she acts, what she does, wears, or says? Or is it somewhere else entirely outside of her, in a larger system that allows her to be a whole, free person? that represents her as such? that allows her to represent herself? that recognizes her individuality and subjectivity? Is it about things like voting and birth control, the issues that Katharine Hepburn's mother devoted her life to fighting for? 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