Matrimony - A Woman's Worth?

Paradigms Hiding Within Our Language

by Roland Kriewaldt

Alimony, Palimony, Matrimony.

"Mony" is the one common theme within all these words; does that mean a woman is considered a form of currency in the context of that business transaction called holy matrimony?

We've romanticized some of the harshness out of our archaic values, but they still exist within our language. The proof of this widespread prejudicial slant in our perspective is that in some of parts of the world today money, livestock and woman are still considered synonymous.

Materalism is about ownership, power and assets, and so is marriage, much of the time. Whether that bursts a romantic bubble or two is strictly in the eye of the beholder. It's the language used, and not how we define it that's in question here.

(After checking a dictionary) Patrimony: "property inherited from the father..." which suggests that the overall meaning of "mony" is property. Alimony: "money ordered payed by a court..." so there it is. Make sure to get a nice ring out of the deal! :)

REALITY CHECK:

Matrimony - A Woman's Worth?

Paradigms Hiding Within Our Language