The Importance Of Arranged Marriage

Brilliant Essays
In today’s society many people find it incomprehensible to have an arranged marriage. An arranged marriage is a marriage that is planned by the family, mainly the parents or guardians of the bride and groom, who have little or no say in the arrangement (Oxford Dictionary). Although in modern day society, arranged marriage is not as dominant as it was in the past due to social change, it still exists in many areas of the world today.
Often times marriages are arranged due to religious, cultural, and ethnic backgrounds, as well as caste, alliances, wealth etc. Statistics show that in India, 90% of marriages are arranged (Udas, 2012). In traditional societies, like those in Pakistan and India, Jefferson says that “a common rationale is that young
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The parents usually look for traits in both the male and the female such as education, culture, religion, wealth, and capability to care for a family. Most of the time the parents will inforce endogamy, the restriction of selecting a mate only within the same group, whether it is within the same religion, culture, or caste (Schaefer, 288). Since the only way to get to know the bride and groom, each family must meet and provide bio-data about his/her life (Unknown, 2006). But due to social change, the parents now allow a small encounter between the bride and the groom under adult supervision. From the brides side of the family in most cultures there usually is a dowry, property or money brought to her husband on their marriage (Unknown, 2006). If the bride’s family is unable to provide this dowry or payment, then her marriage is considered to be unsuccessful. With these special roles played by the families of the bride and groom, the marriage is able to be …show more content…
Sociology a Brief Introduction. 10th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2013. Print.
"Definition of Arranged Marriage in English:." Arranged Marriage: Definition of Arranged Marriage in Oxford Dictionary (American English) (US). Oxford, n.d. Web. 17 Oct. 2015.
Myers, Jane E., Jayamala Madathil, and Lynne R. Tingle. “Marriage Satisfaction and Wellness in India and the United States: A Preliminary Comparison of Arranged Marriages and Marriages of Choice.” American Counseling Association, Mar. 2005. Web. 18 Oct. 2015.
Udas, Sumnima. "Arranged Marriage Is Not Forced Marriage." The CNN Freedom Project Ending ModernDay Slavery RSS. CNN, 30 May 2012. Web. 18 Oct. 2015.
Fish, Jefferson M. "Arranged Marriages." Psychology Today. N.p., 27 Apr. 2010. Web. 18 Oct. 2015.
Unknown. "Arranged Marriages and Dowry System of India." Arranged Marriages and Dowry System of India. Pardesi Services, 2006. Web. 18 Oct. 2015.
Unknown. "India - Caste System." - People, Social, Mullatti, and Castes. Net Industries, 2008. Web. 18 Oct.

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