Wife, a "species" endangered?
Also, marriage no longer offers women unique gateway to sexual pleasures as long cohabitation is no longer taboo. Moreover, marriage is no longer permitted only way that a woman can have offspring and this one shows statistics show that in 2003, between 25 and 30 percent of the children were from extramarital relationships.
In addition, given that one in two marriages will end in divorce , this institution can no longer ensure women's protection under once promised. Under these circumstances we need not wonder why women take so long to decide whether or not they become wives. In Romania, now 9 years data shows that women marry at the age of 24 years , but until today it is possible that the average age to be increased. Statistics from 2011 show that, on average , Romanian women decide to have her first child at the age of 27 years . In this atmosphere ambiguous, it is better to look at the past to see how his wife was defined concept and how it changes the earliest days of human civilization to the present. Wife in ancient GreeceThere are quite a few writings about ancient Greek wives and yet may have very little information referitore who they really were. Much of the literature of that period was created by men that what they reported incidents of male point of view. This explains why Greek literature does not allow us to know anything about their hopes, fears, worries, disappointments needs or wives. What we do know, however, is that the model woman of that period was Penelope , daughter of Icarus and his wife of Odysseus who waited nearly two decades to return home. In the long absence of her husband, Peneleopa was subjected kingdom and took care of his son, but he never need another man. To the population stood opposite Helen of Troy beautiful woman desired by all, the source of all misfortune. 
If we pass from the time of Homer to the fifth century Athens, becoming more diverse sources.Aeschylus, Sophocles and Euripides describes the more violent side of women presenting couples and Iocasta Oedipus, Agamemnon and Clytemnestra, Jason and Medea. For those who do not know, Clytemnestra kills his husband when he returned from the Trojan War, Medea kills his children that he had with Jason and Iocasta, is that Oedipus is her son and commit suicide. Greek comedy, on the other hand, seem to exhibit a more realistic wife. marriage seems to have been an arrangement that mattered most in the face dowry which was to support the couple further in everyday life . Also, in the time of Pericles, the most important was the boy to go into a family where the parents be Athenian citizens. While these things were established by men in the family, his future wife, usually aged 14, did not contact the groom usually twice as old as her. Moreover, after marriagewife became subject to "lord it" and depended on his mercy " . Instead, her husband was allowed by law to have sex with who he wanted, regardless of gender. The only forbidden fruit was the wife of another citizen.ROMANSBetween V and II centuries BC, Roman marriage too much like Greek model: control was held by male and female then future husband while her role was obviously to obey man. However, towards the end of the republic is rooted more egalitarian model, in which women and men are sort of partners. All who seek her father was a good husband, and mothers and other female relatives could be involved in this decision. Decision take long before the marriage, some girls were "promised" by the age of 6 years. Negotiations between the two families were worn by true professionals, experienced brokers. Count in deciding the future status of spouse, especially economically. Of course, if the boy looks, well, these features it brings some white balls. The future spouses were required to be virgins, while the spouses should be mannered. 
Ceremonies were held in the house of brides, summer, after June 15, and those made ??before this month were considered unlucky. The day before the wedding, the bride gave their gods and deny toys clothes worn in childhood. bridal clothes included a veil and orange to red robe woven from one piece of material at the waist with a knot laget? complicated that only her husband would have to be able to unravel. After the wedding everyone brought gifts, and one customs supposed to pretend sad bride and her mother placed in her arms, where her husband had to take it by force. During marriage is presumed with a couple should have as many offspring, but this rule does not apply where the nobles among contraceptive methods were known. One of the most commonly used was made ??of wool soaked in different substances which it is believed that prevents pregnancy such as honey, pine resin, alum and sulphate of lead and oil mix. Abortion is not prohibited by any law to the late second century, which is why women often resorted to it. Another common practice among elites was divorce . About Marc Anthony is said to have had five marriages and even Cicero but divorced after a marriage of 30 years. During this period, even women have the right to institute divorce as long as they were supported by their fathers. Wife in medieval EuropeIn the Middle Ages, in Western Europe, the Catholic Church has gradually made ??its mark on marriage. Thus, marriage is sacred, and men and women who choose this path must know that there is no going back . In general, it was said that this law came to favor women, giving them lifetime protection from his wife that they were tied forever. However, in most European societies, men have the right to punish his wife severely if not obeyed, in some cases even murder is acceptable.Therefore, the Middle Ages remain in history as a period in which both legally and religiously, man is master, and his wife is submitted. The formation of a family fortune stood his wife, money, animals and goods incumbent man in this alliance. In exchange for these goods, husband undertook to provide shelter and protection for future family. In other words, the wedding day was actually kind of day târguielii, a legal transfer of goods from the bride's family to the groom . Let alone who were peasants room for love. Among these, sometimes, young people and even knew and loved. There were also cases in Europe where he did not agree to marry until the girl did not prove to be fertile. Among nobles, however, representations movie informed us correctly: to have to be a virgin, so that a young woman could never be left alone, especially in the company of a man. 
Later church taught that sexual subjects, even those of wife and husband bears the seal of sin. While few Christian thinkers argued marriage and declared that his wife is not a hindrance but a help to obtain salvation, the Church sees marriage as a necessary evil. In the Romanian , the most important aspect virginity before marriage was a girl, hence the proverb: "Better dead girl / Than rogue bear" . In the family, the fundamental role of the wife is to procreate, especially boys. There is an obsession about this issue, the proof being the means by which it was thought could be influenced design a male child : during sex or be placed under the bed tools used only by men or man or both partners had to keep his mouth shut (due to symbolic association between mouth and female genitals). If the wife does not give birth to children or heirs are only girls, it may be repudiated. BIRTH OF ROMANTIC LOVEIt is said that the French invented the "romantic love" its starring a knight and a lady and inspiring at first, creating love relationships outside marriage. This new vision of love couple restores roles,she began to regain their rights . The writings of the time come to present to the woman and the man power holder as a kind of servant ready to serve. Of course, such cases were rare in feudal world and reality came as a counterweight to the prevailing rules. However, it was the first time that women have a higher position. 
Meanwhile, married ladies were advised to remain faithful husband, but to show and coquetry. So they had to avoid to get drunk, to sweeten the breath with some spices and avoid being kissed when sweaty. Also, some of the ladies were harshly criticized for cleavage adopted the very fashionable at that time , which allowed other men to admire, not just spouses. Because the church forbade abortion was normal for a family to have 7-8 children, where nobles were raised by nannies. Often, women of high society in Germany and Italy were involved in the affairs of their husbands, while the rural young wife cared for home, animals and sometimes participating in field work. Victorian wifeHistorians believe that around 1830, Love became one of the most important criteria for choosing a life partner. The so-called love story begins as likely suspects, through an exchange of letters initiated by the man and the girl continued only with parental permission. Throughout the communication by letter, to not be allowed to declare their true feelings. Such conduct was in bad taste. 
Of course, not just love sitting at the marriage, for the noble families, money and welfare still hard to hang in the balance. For this reason, future wife's dowry to contain in addition to money and land from which to recover a sum of money annually to compensate for the fact that his wife did not work. Middle-class women, however, could be involved in the affairs of her husband, especially if he had a shop. Only lower class men relied on women to participate directly in providing an income suitable for family care. However, regardless of status, wives of this period had a set of main tasks: they had to obey her husband, taking care of children and take care of the house . One of the ways in which a wife was supposed to settle the sexual husband. Even at that time, when science had accepted that women can feel pleasure during sex , the ladies were advised to take the first care of husbands.In other words, Victorian women were considered "angels in the house" spirits that had such sexual needs or desires.From a legal perspective, wives still do not have any right, which is why we are still men were allowed to devise their wives with a stick no matter how long, but thicker than a thumb. Also, in case of divorce, for whatever reason, upon her husband's children. WIFE "OM"In the third act of the play of Henrik Ibsen, a doll house, and Nora Helmer had an interesting discussion in which he says: "Before anything else, you are a wife and a mother.". Nora respond to this statement: "I believe in that. I believe that before all else I am a man like you ... or at least I will try to be one. " Following the first representations of the Theatre in Copenhagen in December 1879, has sparked a huge scandal. The idea that a responsible woman to give up her role of mother and wife was seen as an insult. The song came to draw attention to the condition of women, which was not recognized as a citizenand who depended entirely on man, first the father and then her husband. The only law to give women something to say and was launched in Sweden in 1874, when for the first time a woman has some control over properties that marriage brings. The law also benefit them and middle-class women who, from that year, had the right to be in charge of their own income. These women raise money for their dowry for their wedding. Meanwhile, until we get to have the right amount, they were allowed to live with fiancés and even become mothers. This relationship was known as "Stockholm marriage"and to allow women to have an incredible independence compared to past centuries. Had left home because they did not depend on parents and because they were not legally married, they do not depend on the spouses. 
In England, this change occurred with the media, which increasingly publish several articles on the "new woman." Here, new women could be recognized by education and independence from her husband. However, feminist protests were seen as a threat to the condition of his wife and marriage itself. From now on, women become more informed about sexual life. Philosophers and doctors began to publish papers and carry out research on the topic of female genitalia and sex. In the mid-nineteenth century writings appear that promotes contraceptives such as washing after intercourse with a mixture of water and one of the following: alum, sulphate of zinc or vinegar. Also, the very fact that the protection of women depended on their own was considered an advantage. On the other hand, pending contraceptive pill, "recipes" for an abortion were passed down from generation to generation, and help doctors become welcome. However, in the period 1860-1880 to implement a series of laws prohibiting abortion in several states. Now the foundations of the first attempts to create feminist movements that will take momentum only in the 1870s. 
Nowadays WIFEEveryone knows that his wife's image changed in the last half-century. 60 years ago, a woman from the middle class would have dreamed to marry a man from the same town, same ethnicity and religion, but perhaps a better financial status. Maiden probably met some guys, but never has "gone all the way" . And would like some children, which would allow it to stop working and stay at home taking care of their education. Knowing very few people who are divorced, have reason to hope that it will be forced to undergo such a situation "shameful". Today, when most women already living with a man before marriage, it is easy to see that the number of those who prefer to lose their virginity on the wedding night is limited. In addition, if an unmarried woman becomes pregnant, it is not necessarily rush to the altar, and evidence are statistics showing that a growing number of children are born out of an extramarital affair. On the other hand, today's women marry on average, 5 years later than they did their grandmothers and choose their life partners not only from other countries but also other religion or ethnicity. Moreover, current wives are on average up to 2 children and choose to return to work after 2 years of maternity leave. As you can see these changes, even if some of them seem sudden we must remember that a wife is not represented only a picture, but a series of images taken over her life and that we find in family album. People change over time, depending on the interaction with younger generations that force them indirectly come into contact with new values ??and behaviors. Marry young nowadays generally attained after 25 years, ie after having completed their studies after they have gained some work experience. They enter into a marriage where relatively equal status of men, even if there is still discussion which shows that "for him, marriage is simpler, it having more responsibilities."Inequality is highlighted in some of the most developed countries, even if it manifests outside the EU.In China, for example, speaks of "Leftover Women" , those unmarried women who have reached the age of 27 years and are harshly criticized by the Women's Federation for having chosen to continue their education rather than marry. Lately, China Women's Federation passed the serious accusations against independent women . Here is an excerpt from an article posted by this institution over the New York Times: "nice girls do not need much education to marry and enter a rich and powerful family, but those with an ugly face them difficult. These girls think that if they have a high level of education can become more competitive. The problem is that they do not realize that over time, age and worth increasingly less. That is until they graduate they are already old, and yellowed pearls " . Also, so-called "Leftover Women" are accused of leading a depraved life, accepting to live with wealthy men, hang from bars without marrying her. It also accuses Women Federation for their very high standards in choosing partners. "Who says there is perfect man? And even if there were, why the hell would want to marry just to them? "Also notes that Article 2011. China Women Federation actions against unmarried young women began to appear in 2007, shortly after the state enacted a decree to strengthen family programs in response to a range of pressures and gender imbalance. In turn, this inequality is a threat to social stability.This explains why the China love is increasingly sacrificed in favor of a union with a hint of commercial transaction where a company partners their children married each other for the venture to become stronger. Although arranged marriage is forbidden since 1950, we can only say that old habits never die. In Europe, however, things are more relaxed, and the best example is "civil pacts of solidarity"(PACS) a document that entitles a couple members have the same rights as those married, except promise they will stay together forever .
