How relationship status defines lives of human beings

Relationship status is one of the most critical determinants of social position for human beings worldwide. From a young age, individuals are asked to either fill the blank spaces or tick the boxes of the various types of relationship status.

Such information is provided in school application documents, forms for opening bank account, national identity registration forms, workplace registration documents, voters’ card forms, phone SIM card registration form driving licence applications, census forms, hospital forms, and even forms in religious places of worship. The details are used by individuals, groups, and organisations to figure out where an individual of interest stands in his or her relationship and, thus, know how to address such a person or deal with any issue regarding the individual appropriately.

In some countries which practice a number of the Abrahamic religions, individuals are frowned at if they do not properly identify their relationship status or if they engage in acts that are deemed to be uncharacteristic and immoral of their status, such as fornication, adultery, frolicking, holding of hands and waist, hugging and kissing. But in some other countries, it is unlawful to discriminate against a person because of their relationship status. Some offenders are fined or even sent to prison for an infraction of the anti-discrimination law(s) in certain jurisdictions.

So, what is a relationship status? What are the types of relationship status known across the world currently?

Table of Content hide 1Meaning of relationship status 2Types of relationship status 2.1Conventional civil status 2.1.1Single 2.1.2Married 2.1.3Divorced 2.1.4Widowed 2.2Modern relationship status 2.2.1We are hanging out, or we are seeing each other 2.2.2We are dating, or we are in a relationship 2.2.3It’s complicated 2.2.4On a break 2.2.5Friends with benefit 2.2.6Open relationship

Meaning of relationship status

Relationship status talks about the status of an individual’s relationship. It means the status of an individual being or having been in a personal relationship that may result in frequent, intimate associations, primarily characterised by the expectation of affectional involvement.

The distinct options describe a person’s relationship with a significant other, i.e., a person’s partner in an intimate relationship. It is the legally defined marital state. Relationship status defines whether an individual is either married or not married. It is a term that attempts to establish if a person’s intimate relationship with his or her partner is casual, committed, or complicated.

An individual’s relationship status affects or influences many aspects of his or her life. As earlier mentioned, having a defined status facilitates an individual’s knowledge of the rights and responsibilities that are relevant to his or her current relationship situation. In addition, having a defined relationship status provides a better understanding of your obligations – be it personal or collective.

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Types of relationship status

There are several types of relationship status. They are generally classified into two:

The conventional civil status; and
The modern relationship status.

Conventional civil status

These are the traditional or standard relationship statuses that have existed since immemorial. They are:

Single

Single is often used to refer to someone who is not involved in any type of romantic relationship – whether long-term dating, engagement, or marriage. It also refers to a person who is not in a committed relationship and to people whose relationship with a significant other is not legally recognised.

Some people prefer to be single by choice due to the following, but not limited to:

Lack of suitable life partners
Financial constraint
Pursuit of educational or professional advancement
Unpalatable situations in marriage
Mental health

Married

Married refers to two people who are united in marriage. It is, most often, a legally recognised union between two people. Once they are married, the married people are then referred to as spouses.

People get married for several reasons, including:

Legal purposes,
Sexual purposes,
Social purposes,
Emotional purposes,
Financial purposes
Spiritual purposes; and
Religious purposes.

To get married, the persons involved partake in a ceremony called a wedding. It is, however, instructive to note that the definition of marriage varies between cultures and religions. The meaning of being married differs from country to country. Marriage can occur between a man and a woman (known as heterosexual marriage) or between two men or two women (the last two instances are known as homosexual marriage. The marriage between the men is called a gay union, while that of the women is referred to as a lesbian union).

However, when sanctioned and approved, married people legally recognised in their jurisdiction are permitted to engage in sexual activity.

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Divorced

Divorced refers to people whose marriages have been terminated. It entails the cancellation or dissolution of legally-bonded matrimony of a couple.

Couples dissatisfied with their marriages largely obtain a divorce from the law court. The grounds for divorce vary widely from country to country. They include:

Sexual incompatibility
Lack of independence for one or both spouses
Personality clash
Infidelity
Trust issues
Domestic violence
Workaholism

Also, the law concerning divorce varies in each particular country or state. But in most jurisdictions, a divorce must be proclaimed by a court of law – through a judge’s verdict – for it to come into effect. It can also be certified by a non-judicial administrative authority.

Whenever a divorce is officially certified, the couple involved, more often than not, tend to split and separate from each other. Depending on the circumstances of the marriage, issues such as the distribution of property, child custody, spousal support), child visitation/access, parenting time, and child support are either debated or discussed and determined by the court or an arbitration panel.

It is, however, important to note that the only countries that do not allow divorce are the Philippines (in Southeast Asia) and the Vatican City (the Catholic Church). Instead, the Catholic Church grants annulment, a legal procedure that declares a marriage null and void. This means that the affected marriage is deemed invalid from the beginning – that a valid marriage was never contracted in the first place.

Widowed

For persons whose legal marital status is declared as widowed, their marriages ceased to exist due to the death of one of the spouses or by declaring a missing spouse dead.

Women mourning the death of their husbands are referred to as widows, while men who are left single by the death of their wives are called widowers. Whenever an individual is widowed, there is a sudden change in responsibilities, the burden of care, expectations, and reactions. There is a likelihood of men and women experiencing lifestyle habit changes after the death of a spouse.

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Modern relationship status

These are ways to describe the relationship statuses of individuals in the contemporary world. However, most of the terms are not considered official and used for official purposes. Instead, they are mostly used by the youth to describe the nature of their relationship status, particularly on social media.

Some of these terms include:

We are hanging out, or we are seeing each other

This means that the individuals involved have not officially started a relationship or defined what their status is going to be like as they are in the early stages of dating. They have, however, spent more time together, admitted that they like each other, and are hanging out and chatting more often.

We are dating, or we are in a relationship

At this stage, the individuals involved describe themselves as ‘boyfriend’ and ‘girlfriend.’ The individuals are involved in a committed relationship and tend to move and act as couples. Both parties choose and endorse each other as partners and decide that they want to be together in a relationship.

It’s complicated

This status means there is infighting or a disagreement between couples or lovebirds, and they need to find ways to reconcile their differences.

On a break

This refers to an intentional pause in a relationship, especially when both or one of the parties needs to work out some issues. The couple(s) involved attempt to know how they feel and touch base with themselves internally.

Friends with benefit

Friends with benefits are two people who engage in sexual activity without being in a committed relationship. In another way, the term means that two consenting adults agree to have casual sex and do not bother to dwell on being romantic with each other.

Friends with benefits dwell mainly on “recreational, non-exclusive sex”. The individuals involved do not date each other but have sex either occasionally or regularly. However, such a relationship is devoid of emotional attachment and commitment.

Open relationship

An open relationship is when two consenting adults are open to alternative sexual partners other than themselves. The two partners are committed to each other, just like in a monogamous relationship, but they prefer to have sexual or emotional intimacy with other people.

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