Visual markers of marital status

Humans use clothing, hairstyle, accessories, jewelry, tattoos, and other bodily adornments as indicators of social status. One status that is usually of extreme interest is marital status. In many places and times, someone who is married is supposedly off-limits for flirtation, casual sex, or courtship. If married people merit special privileges, forms of address, or expressions of politeness, it is useful to know this immediately.

Because marital status markers are usually gender-specific, male and female status markers will be discussed separately.

Contents

1 Male 1.1 Jewelry 1.2 Beards 2 Female 2.1 Jewelry 2.2 Hairstyle 2.3 Cosmetics 2.4 Clothing

Male

These are typically less elaborate than female marital status markers, and in many cultures may be absent. One reading of this is that men may see these markers as limiting their sexual behavior and resist them.

Jewelry

In Western countries, some but not all married men wear a gold wedding ring on the left ring finger (right in ex-USSR countries).

Beards

Among the Amish and Hutterite communities of Canada and the United States, only married men are entitled to wear beards. Unmarried men must shave.

Female

Jewelry

• Engagement ring In many Western cultures, a proposal of marriage is traditionally accompanied by the gift of a ring. The male proposes and offers the ring; if the female accepts his proposal of marriage, she will take and wear the ring. The ring shows that she is no longer available for flirtation. (Diamond companies have been extremely successful in propagating the idea that an engagement ring should be a diamond ring, and that it should be the most expensive the prospective groom can afford.)

• Wedding ring Many Western wedding ceremonies also include the exchange of a wedding ring or rings. In many Christian ceremonies, the groom places a ring on the bride's hand and says, "With this ring I do thee wed." In other ceremonies, both bride and groom place rings and speak the words. After the ceremony, the bride wears the ring as long as the marriage lasts. If it ends in divorce, she usually removes the ring. Widows may or may not choose to remove the wedding ring.

• Mangal-sutra In many Hindu wedding ceremonies, the groom gives the bride a gold pendant or necklace incorporating black beads or black string. This is called a mangal-sutra. It not only proclaims a woman's married state, it is believed by many to exercise a protective influence over the husband. That is, a wife's love and concern, as shown by her donning of the mangal-sutra, is magically helpful to the husband. This resembles the karwa-chauth celebration, in which a wife fasts and prays for her husband's welfare.

Hairstyle

• Hair up or down.
• Zuni hair styles.

Cosmetics

• Sindoor

Clothing

• White for Hindu widows.