Cousins are definitely a blessing! They know almost everything about you and since most of the time they don’t live under the same roof as you, they don’t seem as annoying as your real siblings. When growing up together, it is common to feel that they have fallen in love with their cousins. Read on to find out if it’s okay to be in such a relationship or not.
The meaning of cousins and the relationship in the family
Meaning of cousins
Cousins are relatives who have the same grandparents as us. In other words, our father’s children, as well as maternal uncles and aunts, will be our cousins. Having cousins especially the same age as you is a blessing. They are a blood family but they are also friends. For the most part, they are the few people who make boring family gatherings fun. In addition to first cousins, there are also second cousins who are the children of your parents’ cousins. You may not see your second cousins as often as your first cousins, but you can still share a cool bond with your second cousins, too. However, in some families, the cousins are treated as distant family and are not too close to each other.
Cousins in a relationship
Having a romantic relationship with your cousin is not as simple as it seems. Some communities may allow cousin marriages, but most communities and religions such as Hinduism do not allow cousin marriages or relationships, as in these communities, cousins are also considered siblings. Cousin marriage is prohibited in more than 30 states in America, however, it is legal to fall in love with or marry a cousin in the UK. An Australian actress named Greta Sacchi married her first cousin and heard a lot of criticism at first, but then she came out and told how it is legal and how extremely happy she is with her married life.
Marriage and cousin relationships as taboo
Among the many things, falling in love with your cousin or secretly dating your cousin is still considered taboo in many parts of the world. However, it was not considered unusual in the past. There are many examples of famous people who married their first cousins. Among the most popular, Albert Einstein and Charles Darwin married their first cousins and it was completely normal to marry cousins back then. However, nowadays many countries including China, the Philippines, and most of the US states find it disgusting and disgusting to marry or fall in love with your first cousin. However, it is legal in countries like Japan and the UK. Other than that, most Muslim countries have a high proportion of cousin marriages, as allowed by Islam.
Is it wrong for cousins to fall in love with each other?
Being attracted to a cousin
Aside from our own siblings, cousins are the first friends we make. Growing up, you play with your cousins and sometimes even take a bath with them, etc. If you have cousins who are the same age group as you, there will probably come a time when they are attracted to each other. This is because they can see each other often and may even share the same interests and disinterests. It is normal to be attracted to a cousin. Most analysts have said that this attraction is basically a crush that is normal, especially during adolescence. This is because during puberty, these emotions are stronger than usual and you may feel attracted or infatuated with a cousin, but as you get older, the infatuation may subside.
How to react when you fall in love with a cousin
Falling in love with a cousin can still be taboo in most countries, but if you are confident in your feelings and feel safe with your partner, then there is no reason for you to be ashamed of it. It’s completely okay to fall in love with a cousin and pursue him to marriage. However, studies show that children born in cousin marriages may have abnormalities, but this is the case if there are cousin marriages. For example, in Pakistan, the proportion of cousin marriages is so high that most families do not even consider marrying their child outside the family. In such a case, the risk of abnormalities in newborns is higher.
Is it wrong to fall in love with a cousin?
Falling in love with a cousin may be considered right by some people and wrong by others. It is a debatable topic as there is no definitive answer to the question: “Is it wrong to fall in love with a cousin?”
However, we all know that we do not choose who we fall in love with. If you fell in love with a cousin, feel free to open up about it just because it’s taboo. People who have been in love with their cousins and finally married them often say that marrying a cousin is like marrying a friend.
Summary
Cousins are usually the first friends we make. During adolescence, there is a high possibility that you will be attracted to a cousin of the opposite since, during puberty, your emotions are stronger than ever. If you fall in love with a cousin, you shouldn’t be ashamed of it. There is nothing wrong with being in love with a cousin. You should have the basic right to be in love and to choose your partner. In most countries, cousin marriage is illegal and remains taboo, but being in love is about breaking taboos and stereotypes. However, you should be aware of the fact that cousin marriages can lead to abnormalities in children. The bottom line is that you need to be sure of your feelings and make a rational decision.