Why is it considered incorrect to marry your first cousin ?

India
January 18, 2007 3:05am CST
I feel that intimate relationships within cousins can easily happen. If one falls in love in such a case or likes each other, why does the society not approve of such a relation to culiminate as a marriage ?
3 people like this
8 responses
@gray1219 (96)
• Philippines
18 Jan 07
well it really is incorrect but I've read on other forums that in China parents prefers 1st cousin marriages so they can keep their clan's money :) well in Alaska they have this custom that before a woman can marry a man she must first be deflowered by her own father and in Germany they don't allow a woman to get married if they are still virgins I don't know if that's true or just a hoax :)
• India
20 Jan 07
Very interesting rresponse indeed. Can you give me any references to support your views.
@glummy (193)
• Philippines
18 Jan 07
Because people think such is morally wrong and scientifically speaking, it'll cause genetical abnormalities to their child.
• India
20 Jan 07
What kind of abnormalities can really occur. And why do they.
@freesoul (3021)
• Egypt
18 Jan 07
It depends on the society/culture, it's quite acceptable in many places and not causing any problems. cousins are not like brother and sister, usually they don't grow up under the same roof and many times they don't even live at the same neighborhood or city so there are a safe enough distance for natural love to grow between cousins when they come together.
18 Jan 07
Because not only are cousins STILL RELATED in most cases, and share the same BLOOD, but it's been proven that if cousins have a child together, there is over a 50% chance that they will have a genetic disorder, but they can also be slightly 'slow', too.
• Thailand
18 Jan 07
I agree that an intimate relationship with a cousin can happen. Society usually condemns a person for having a relationship with a cousin or a relative for moral reasons, eventhough in ancient times this practice is widely accepted. With the advent of religion, this practises are slowly being considered as taboo depending on what culture you are raised from. We have grown up in a society that has conditioned our minds not to make relationship with a relative.
• India
20 Jan 07
So there is no harm in actually getting married.
@judyt00 (3497)
• Canada
18 Jan 07
its because often cousins marry cousins for generations and it can cause birth defects to show up more often. itshealthier for your children to have parents who are not already related.
• India
20 Jan 07
How is birth defect related to marriage between cousins.
@pusiket (1756)
• Philippines
18 Jan 07
Because of the blood relations. It is scientifically believed that marrying your close relatives will result in physical or mental abnormalities in your children.
@swasti (1157)
• India
18 Jan 07
yeah it can cause birth defects. anyway but ic ant imagine marrying my first cousin as he/she is like my brother ,sister. so anyway there is no thrill in taht marriage. marrying some1 u dont know really ahs soem thrill.