Arranged Marriages

Definition: An arranged marriage is a marriage where the marital partners are chosen by others based on considerations other than the pre-existing mutual attraction of the partners. In Indian culture,  parents, uncles, aunts or other relatives are involved in choosing the partner for the would-be bride or groom.

Arranged marriage reasons: Arranged marriage takes the  approach that if two individuals' families  are of equal status ( economic stability), caste, religion, eating habits etc., then the mutual adjustment is easy and the compatibility is high. Marriage is considered a union of two families and not just the two individuals marrying each other. Many Indians believe that arranged marriages are more successful than marriages in the West, where more than 50 percent end in divorce. Romantic love does not necessarily lead to a good marriage. Real love, lasting love, can only be achieved through a properly arranged union.

In some cultures where divorce is forbidden or looked down upon socially, arranged marriages have a higher probability of success because both husband and wife work hard towards making the marriage work, rather than breaking up at the slightest conflict. The "love marriage" reply back by saying that marriages based on love and sentiments would enjoy the same degree or effort from the couple to make the marriage work.

Social Origins: This habit has been very common in noble families, especially in reigning ones, with the idea of combining and perhaps increasing the strengths of the families (and kingdoms) of the bride and groom. A good part of Indian history has been influenced by these unions. In some cases, especially in less cultivated social classes, marriages were arranged with the help of a middleman. In some countries the man chooses his wife and pays money for her to her family.

Social Aspects: Arranged marriage is still commonly practiced in the Indian Subcontinent (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka), and is the most common way people get married to each other. It is practiced by Hindus, Sikhs, Christians, Buddhists, and Muslims. The custom has survived migration and modernization and remains central to the fabric of Indian society. Although no exact figures are available, it is estimated that around 95 percent of all marriages in India are arranged.

Economic principles: Arranged marriages operate on the notion that marriages are primarily an economic union or a means to have children and  stable family. Relationships are defined on economic dimensions first, on top of which social and sexual relationships can be built.

Socio-politics: In a large number of arranged marriages, the male is older than the female. This age disparity is usually intentional; some societies consider it proper for an older man to be united with a younger woman. In an arranged marriage the women always seeks a man who is at least equal if not higher to her in socio-economic status. Rarely does an arranged marriage happen where the male is lower to the woman, either in socio-economic status, caste, class or by height.

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