The Benefits of Arranged Marriages

According to Cultural Anthropology: The Human Challenge, "the Western egalitarian ideal that an individual should be free to marry whomever he or she chooses is a distinct arrangement, certainly not universally embraced" (Haviland et. al. 212). This quote by Haviland brings up an interesting question: which type of marriage is best for societies? Many individuals believe arranged marriages are better because they are more stable and long-lasting than marriages made by choice.

To begin, arranged marriages are more stable than marriages made by choice. One reason for this is that arranged marriages are not decided upon based on the whims of young people. In western societies, it is common for young people to decide who they date and who they marry. Because of this, a trend in divorce is common among individuals that marry at a young age. Consider the information presented at the following link: http://www.divorcerate.org/. It is obvious that individuals that marry at a young age in America have a higher chance of divorcing, especially if they are between the ages of 20 and 24 at the time of their marriage. It is said that 50% of marriages in America end in divorce. However, societies in which arranged marriages are common have much lower divorce rates. For instance, the divorce rate in India is an exceedingly low 1.1%. The reason for such low divorce rates in societies with arranged marriages is because adults decide who dates who and who marries who. In this way, the qualities of the individuals are intricately examined without the influence of young raging hormones.

Arranged marriages are also made, not only for the benefit of the couple, but for the benefit of the family. In Western societies, marriages are made based solely on the benefit of the couple and may be seen as an act of selfishness. It is common for one or both families to dislike who their son or daughter chooses to date or marry. Many instances such as these have occurred among my own family. One instance occurred last March when I decided to get married to my husband, Anthony. My parents disliked the fact that I had gotten married at such a young age and without input about my decision. They did not know Anthony well but assumed he was just as bad as my last boyfriend. In contrast, Anthony's family considered me to be the best thing that had ever happened to Anthony. This instance shows that family relationships may be unstable out of marriages made by choice. In non-Western societies, marriage is viewed as an ally between the two families. In India, "an arranged marriage is not just between the bride and groom but between the families as well. Thus, while a girl's looks are important, her character is even more so, for she is being judged as a prospective daughter-in-law as much as a prospective bride" (qtd. in Haviland et. al. 212). Therefore, the couple is agreed upon by both sides of the family and everyone is happy. Arranged marriages are definitely more stable than marriages made by choice.

Arranged marriages last longer than marriages made by choice. Societies in which arranged marriages are common tend to view divorce as a scandal so couples in such societies are less likely to get divorced. In Western societies, divorce is not uncommon and many individuals are accustomed to it as a part of everyday life. Because it is not uncommon and can be easily done, more and more couples are likely to get divorced. Also, since divorce is not uncommon many individuals do not experience the healthy relationships of a traditional family. They cannot stay in a healthy marriage because they never experienced one as a child. In non-Western societies, since divorce is viewed as a scandal couples with conflicts resolve their issues for the preservation of the family. In no way, do they want to seem scandalous because it could endanger the marriages of their kin.

Arranged marriages also tend to last longer than marriages made by choice because they may serve to preserve traditional values people feel may be lost. In Western societies, marriage by choice is made solely based on the egalitarian cultural ideal that individuals should be free to marry whomever they wish. Couples in these societies do not marry for any specific cause so they are likely to easily let go of their marriages and divorce. In contrast, many non-Western societies and various ethnic minorities in America partake in arranged marriage to preserve their long-practiced cultural traditions. Because globalization poses threats to traditional families, these societies have a greater purpose in sticking to the arranged marriage. With a cause in mind, couples in these societies are more likely to "make things work" rather than get divorced. As demonstrated, arranged marriages last longer than marriages made by choice.

To conclude, arranged marriages are more stable and long-lasting than marriages made by choice. Arranged marriages are determined by mature adults, ridding the problems that arise from making such an important decision while young hormones rage. Arranged marriages are made for the benefit of the couple and for the benefit of the family, making everyone satisfied with the relationship. Societies in which arranged marriages are common tend to view divorce as a scandal and are less likely to get divorced because it may ruin the reputation of the family. And finally, societies in which arranged marriages are common are less likely to divorce because their marriage is for a greater purpose, for the preservation of the traditions and values of their entire culture in this globalizing world. For these reasons, many individuals believe arranged marriages are better. However, it all depends on the culture and the ideal the culture embraces.

Sources:
William A. Haviland, Harald E.L. Prinns, Dana Walrath Cultural Anthropology: The Human Challenge
No author. "Divorce Rate" DivorceRate.Org