MIXED-AGE MARRIAGE: PROBLEMS OF METHODOLOGY
The article deals with problems of the methodology of marriage study in general and mixed-age marriage in particular. The analysis of the main theoretical and methodological approaches to its study, developed in modern Russian sociology is given. The functionalist, evolution, gender and economic approaches are considered. It is noted that the proponents of functionalism analyze family in terms of its functions and associate the changes in the field of marriage and family with society's values; the evolutionists believe that the conjugal family dominates in modern society; the supporters of the gender approach focus on the change of gender boundaries of family and marriage; from the view of the economic approach, men and women are presented as «goods» on the market, having different exchange resources. The authors note that the spread mixed-age marriage in society is considered by scientists through the prism of structural functionalism in the context of changes in the hierarchy of individual's needs, degree of importance of a number of family functions, such as reducing the importance of the reproductive function. In addition, such a marriage is presented as a form of social lift. It is noted that for the supporters of the evolutionary paradigm are characterized by a tolerant attitude to single-parent families, same-sex marriage, cohabitation, civil, mixed- age marriages, etc. It was revealed that traditional gender stereotypes are now preserved in relation to mixed- age marriage and they justify a structural social inequality on the basis of sex. From the view of the economic approach the considered type of marriage is illustrated by the researchers in terms of the market, where both parties are satisfied with the transaction of marriage