Visual markers of marital status

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Humans use clothing, hairstyle, accessories, jewelry, tattoos, and other bodily adornments as indicators of social and marital status. Visual markers of marital status are particularly important because they indicate that a person may not be approached for flirtation, courtship or sex^{[citation needed]}. In some cultures, married people enjoy special privileges or are addressed differently by members of the community^{[citation needed]}.

Marital status markers are usually gender-specific.

1 Male
2 Female

[edit] Male

Male marital status markers are usually less elaborate than female marital status markers. In many cultures, they may be non-existent^{[citation needed]}.

[edit] Jewelry

In many Western countries, some married men wear a wedding ring on the third finger of the left hand. In parts of Europe, especially in German-speaking regions, as well as Greece, Russia, Poland, Norway, Lithuania and Bulgaria, the wedding ring is worn on the ring finger of the right hand. In modern times, the material for wedding rings has become less strictly defined, and includes gold, white gold, red gold, tungsten carbide, platinum, and titanium.

Manual laborers sometimes use rings from inexpensive or durable materials like tungsten or an ink tattoo while working to avoid damage to the ring or the possibility of injury^{[citation needed]}.

[edit] Beards

Among the Amish and Hutterite communities of Canada and the United States, only married men are entitled to wear beards^{[citation needed]}. Unmarried men must shave.

[edit] Prayer Shawl

In some Ashkenazi Jewish communities, men wear a prayer shawl, known as a "tallit" or "tallis," only after marriage. It is customary for the father of the bride to present the groom with a tallit as a wedding present.

[edit] Female

[edit] Jewelry

Engagement ring In many Western cultures, a proposal of marriage is traditionally accompanied by the gift of a ring. The man proposes and offers the ring; if the woman accepts this proposal of marriage, she will wear the ring, showing she is no longer available for courtship. In British-American tradition, diamond rings are the most popular type of engagement ring. The engagement ring is usually worn on the left ring finger (sometimes this ring is switched from the left to the right hand as part of the wedding ceremony).
Wedding ring Many Western wedding ceremonies also include the exchange of a wedding ring or rings. A common custom is for the groom to place a ring on the bride's finger and say, "With this ring I wed thee." Sometimes both bride and groom present each other with rings and repeat either these words, or some other vow. After the ceremony, the rings are worn throughout the marriage. In the event of divorce, the couple usually removes their rings. Some widows continue to wear their wedding ring, sometimes switching it to the right hand, while others do not.
In Jewish tradition, the wedding ring must be a plain band, without gemstones. There is no need for it to be expensive or made of precious materials. The important thing is that the groom has purchased it himself. Under the wedding canopy, this is one of the questions that the officiating rabbi will ask the groom, before performing the ceremony.
Mangalsutra In many Hindu wedding ceremonies, the groom gives the bride a gold pendant or necklace incorporating black beads or black string. This is called a mangal-sutra. It not only proclaims a woman's married state, it is believed by many to exercise a protective influence over the husband. That is, a wife's love and concern, as shown by her donning of the mangal-sutra, is magically helpful to the husband. This resembles the karwa-chauth celebration, in which a wife fasts and prays for her husband's welfare.
Bangles Married Hindu women also wear bangles on both hands, and never remove them until they are divorced or widowed. Often made of glass, they are broken when the marriage has ended. Bollywood uses this to great dramatic effect in Hindi films, with a woman being informed of the demise of her husband by the messenger (often her son) smashing her glass bangles and wiping the sindoor off her forehead. Bangles made of gold and silver, as well as other materials are also worn by the middle class.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Hats and Headcoverings

In Jewish tradition, a married woman must cover her head when entering a synagogue. In the Orthodox Jewish community, headcoverings are worn at all times. In certain sectors of the Haredi community, women shave their heads after the wedding and wear a close-fitting black scarf. The type of headcovering may be determined by local custom or personal preference. In some communities, it is permissible for hair to show; in others, no strand is left uncovered. Hats, headscarves, snoods and wigs are used, sometimes in combination.