--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Whatever their relative valuation of the…" description: "\"Whatever their relative valuation of the single and married states, most societies in history made sharp distinctions between those who married and tho..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e2/stephanie-coontz-3365_history_whatever-their-relative-valuation-of-the_958153.png" --- # Whatever their relative valuation of the single and… ![“Whatever their relative valuation of the single and married states, most societies in history made sharp distinctions between those who married and those who remained single: They were seen as mutually exclusive ways of life, with different legal rights and social obligations.” quote by Stephanie Coontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e2/stephanie-coontz-3365_history_whatever-their-relative-valuation-of-the_958153.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e2/stephanie-coontz-3365_history_whatever-their-relative-valuation-of-the_958153.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e2/stephanie-coontz-3365_history_whatever-their-relative-valuation-of-the_958153.png) > “Whatever their relative valuation of the single and married states, most societies in history made sharp distinctions between those who married and those who remained single: They were seen as mutually exclusive ways of life, with different legal rights and social obligations.” [Stephanie Coontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-coontz/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Historical analysis of how societies differentiate marriage from singleness, assigning distinct rights and duties to each. **In simple terms:** Societies treat marriage and singleness as separate, with different rules. Key Takeaway Recognize the social constructs shaping relationship status. Themes history law gender social norms Mood analytical reflective Type academic historical When to use this quote - legal policy - family planning - social research Key Concepts institutional analysis cultural evolution Questions to Reflect On - How have these distinctions evolved? - Do they still affect modern choices? A Different Perspective May ignore individual preferences. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Distinctions Married](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/distinctions-married-1753969/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Legal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/legal/) [Legal rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/legal-rights/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Marriage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marriage/) [Married States](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/married-states-1647533/) [Rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rights/) [Rights Social](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rights-social-1395838/) [Seen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seen/) [Social Obligations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social-obligations-235250/) [States Societies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/states-societies-309510/) ## Related quotes > [It no longer makes sense to see singlehood and marriage as two distinct and stable social categories that should be accorded different legal rights…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-coontz/it-no-longer-makes-sense-to-see-singlehood-and-marriage-as-two/) [Stephanie Coontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-coontz/) > [No society lies nearer to the cyclonic path of the forces of world change than the United States, and few societies are more intellectually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-dawson/no-society-lies-nearer-to-the-cyclonic-path-of-the-forces-of-world/) [Christopher Dawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-dawson/) > [People don't think about the fact that when Barack Obama's parents had him it was illegal for them to be married in several states…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-washington/people-don-t-think-about-the-fact-that-when-barack-obama-s-parents/) [Kerry Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-washington/) > [People don't think about the fact that when Barack Obama's parents had him - it was illegal for them to be married in several…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-washington/people-don-t-think-about-the-fact-that-when-barack-obama-s-parents-2/) [Kerry Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-washington/) > [Contrary to myth, 'The Feminine Mystique' and feminism did not represent the beginning of the decline of the stay-at-home mother but a turning point…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-coontz/contrary-to-myth-the-feminine-mystique-and-feminism-did-not-represent/) [Stephanie Coontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-coontz/) > [It makes no sense to talk of the social obligations of the corporation without reference to its economic obligations. 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It is the first obligation of government and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/respect-for-human-rights-is-not-social-work-it-is-not-merely-an-act/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Woman is born free and lives equal to man in her rights. Social distinctions can be based only on the common utility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olympe-de-gouges/woman-is-born-free-and-lives-equal-to-man-in-her-rights-social/) [Olympe de Gouges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olympe-de-gouges/) > [“Territory matters, and there is little difference between territorial rights and social status. It is often a matter of life and death.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-b-peterson/territory-matters-and-there-is-little-difference-between-territorial/) [Jordan B. 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