Dialectics of Same Sex Marriage in a Globalized World: The Case of Nigeria, South Africa, United Kingdom and the United States

Abstract

The definition of marriage varies according to different cultures. It is considered a cultural universal. In terms of legal recognition, most sovereign states and other jurisdictions limit marriage to opposite-sex couples or two persons of opposite gender in the gender binary, and a diminishing number of these permit polygyny, and forced marriages. In modern times, a growing number of countries and other jurisdictions have lifted bans on and have established legal recognition for same-sex marriage. This work attempts a critical analysis of the concept of same sex marriage in a jurisdiction such as Nigeria and compares with more developed jurisdictions such as the United States and the United Kingdom. With the advent of globalization and the flexible use of human rights, the work creates a convergence between different forms of marriage and the need for countries such as Nigeria to appreciate the inherent right of human beings to engage in a union that is best for them.