EXPECTATIONS OF MARRIAGE AMONG YOUNG TAMIL SINGAPOREANS

Abstract

The Indian-Tamil community in Singapore is one that is diverse, with followers of different religions and way of life who are united through language. Marriage is an important institution in the community, with various factors that affect an individual’s decision to get married and their expectations of their own performance of gender as well as that of their partners in a marriage. These factors range from religious beliefs, to patterns of migration. Existing studies are largely based on the entire Indian community or based on children of migrants who had come to Singapore in the 1950sand 1960s. However, much has changed since that period. This paper considers the relevance as well as the expectations of performing gender within a marriage and if there have been changes from previously held models and expectations particularly in spouse selection. This thesis makes the argument that despite minor changes in gendered behaviour within marriage, expectations of gendered performance have not changed over time. Hence, I argue that Cherlin’s theory on the deinstitutionalisation of marriage in America is not relevant in the Indian-Tamil Community. This is done through Cherlin’s new institutionalisation thesis that uses regulations, norms and cultural-cognition as a means to justify the continuation of institutions such as marriage. I illustrate through the understanding of expectations young Indian men and women have of themselves and their spouses after marriage as well as ways in which spouse selection continues to take place in the community.