Marrying Your Cousin in Washington: Is It Legal? Some cultures and societies have traditionally accepted cousin marriage, but people are becoming more aware of the genetic risks, and the law varies from place to place.
This article will look deeply into the laws within Washington State that restrict marrying one’s cousin, the reasoning behind those laws, and the arguments surrounding them.
In Washington State, it is unlawful for first cousins or any close relatives to get married. Parents and children, siblings, uncles or aunts and nieces or nephews, and first cousins are banned from getting married.
People in these positions are believed to be too related to get married, so the state will not allow them.
Any marriage that did not follow Washington State’s rules on cousin marriage would be thrown out. This means that the marriage would not be recognized by the law, and the people involved would not have the rights and benefits that married people usually have.
Historical and Cultural Context of Cousin Marriage
Cousin marriages were more common than now in many parts of the world. There were several reasons for this, including:
- Keeping Property and Inheritance: In some cultures, cousin marriages kept family property and wealth consolidated within the extended family.
- Strengthening Familial Ties: Cousin marriages were sometimes considered a means of solidifying familial bonds, making more social alliances.
- Limited Partner Pool: In small towns or other rural locations, there often were fewer individuals from which to draw for marriage partners, and cousins could easily be some of the most accessible choices.
Cultural attitudes toward cousin marriage have also changed quite dramatically since the late nineteenth century. With greater knowledge of genetics and the potential this might have on a child’s health, laws and social restrictions across much of the world are being tightened.
Genetic Risks of Cousin Marriage
Much genetic material is shared between first cousins because of the shared grandparents. Because they share ancestry, there is a greater chance that both partners have a recessive gene for a disorder.
If both parents have a recessive disorder, then the possibility that their offspring have it will be higher since their offspring will inherit two copies of the recessive gene. Some of the most common genetic disorders that are recessive include:
- Cystic fibrosis
- Sickle cell anemia
- Tay-Sachs disease
Most studies that have been done revealed that babies from first cousins’ marriages are a little more prone to the occurrence of birth defects and genetic disorders as compared to children from non-related couples. Although the entire risk is still low, it is a primary reason why cousin marriage is prohibited.
Arguments For and Against Cousin Marriage
The legality of cousin marriage has long been debated, and both sides make different points:
Cases against Cousin Marriage
- Personal Liberty: Those supporting cousin marriage may argue that adults should be allowed to make their choices in partners regardless of whether they happen to have familial ties. They believe the government should not interfere with personal choices regarding love and marriage.
- Cultural or Religious Traditions: For many cultures or religions, cousin marriage is an old tradition, and its roots run deep. In some cases, the proponents might argue that these are cultural or religious traditions that should not be infringed upon by legal prohibitions.
- Maintaining Family Ties: For some, cousin marriage is a means of building up family ties, thus keeping things very close-knit within an extended family.
Arguments Against Cousin Marriage:
Increased Health Risks: The reason for not wanting cousins to marry is that the children born from them will be more likely to have genetic diseases. Those opposing it emphasize that it could hurt children and put the health of future generations first.
Society and morality: Some feel that it’s immoral for cousins to get married. They could be concerned with how the roles of family and relationships continue being blurred.
Power imbalance: Some feel that this will force or coerce the weak to marry a cousin in the family when there is a power imbalance.
Alternatives to Cousin Marriage
People who previously contemplated marrying a cousin now have other options that are less risky to their health:
- Genetic Counseling: Couples seeking to start a family can consult with a genetic counselor, who assesses the risks of passing on recessive disorders, based on a family’s history, and can offer choices in testing.
- Increased Acceptability in Society: Improved acceptance in society towards marriage partners outside of the family circle will reduce the number of cases where an individual is restricted in his choice and considers marrying a cousin.
Conclusion
Since cousin marriage is legal in Washington State, it also means that individuals are becoming more alert of the possible genetic risks involved with such relationships.
Those who would like to be at liberty to choose whom to marry may have their way, but the law frowns upon cousinship marriage because they fear the health and well-being of their offspring.
Ultimately, it is for each person to decide whether or not to marry a cousin. However, one needs to be fully aware of what might happen to future generations.
