Arranged Marriages

An arranged marriage is when parents, or the eldest male in the family, choose a spouse for a young boy or girl. Arranged marriages are practiced all over the world, some countries include Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Canada and India. These types of marriages have many positive and negative points.

Both Sides to Our Issue

Some arranged marriages can work-out, but the man or woman may not be happy with the spouse that has been chosen for him/her. If the man and the woman get along, that's excellent, but sometimes there a lot of differences which can cause problems. Arranged marriages can improve the social standings of a family. In some cases women get the opportunity to work, but women are usually stay-at-home mum. You have to be the same nationality. So East Indians marry East Indians. In the Sikh culture/religion the son or daughter have to marry the same cast (rich marry rich, farmers marry farmers).

Against Arranged Marriages

In some cases the husband can be abusive to the wife. For example, the lady we interviewed, Indy Grewal, said that if the husband and the wife don't get along the husband might beat her. If the sons and/or daughters don't like the spouse chosen for them, they can get a divorce but they get disowned by thier parents and are treated badly by their community. The son or daughter can also get disowned and treated badly if they don't agree with arranged marriages. Sometimes the girl/boy get married quite young and that. s bad because the daughter gets pulled out of school, which is bad because she doesn't get to finish her education.

Interesting Facts about Arranged Marriages

• In Japan if you are twenty-five and not engaged or married, then you are called "Christmas Cake!"
• In India if you divorce in an arranged marriage your parents will disown you.
• Some people from India wear something on their forehead that is called the . third eye.. They believe that they can see the world better when they wear it.
• In Pakistan 90 percent of marriages are arranged while in Japan 25-30 percent of all marriages are arranged.
• Some Indian women have taken drug overdoses to escape from the emotions that their lives would bring them.
• In China if you are in an arranged marriage then you are only allowed to have one child.
• In India women can have up to 8 sons.
• Some countries believe that girls take money away from the family so girl babies are killed.
• Some countries believe that boys bring money to the family. It is an . honor. to have a boy.
• Mostly Chinese, Hindus and East Indians practice arranged marriages.
• In India, some people can tell what kind of cast you are by looking at your last name.

Arranged Marriages in Japan

In Japan, there are two types of marriage: the so-called love marriage and the arranged marriages. The love marriage is the type we are familiar with in the West, where the couple meet independently without the assistance of a go-between or matchmaker. Although the arranged marriages was predominant in the past, the majority of Japanese marriages today are love marriages. Estimates vary, placing the proportion of arranged marriages at anywhere from 25 to 50 percent.

The modern system of arranged marriages is somewhat similar to blind dating in the United States. When a young woman reaches marriageable age (now about 25 for a Japanese woman), she and her parents compile a packet of information about her, including a photograph of her in kimono and descriptions of her family background, education, hobbies, accomplishments, and interests. Her parents then inquire among their friends and acquaintances to see if anyone knows a man who would be a suitable husband for her. The person who does becomes the go-between, showing the packet to the potential bridegroom and, if both parties are interested, arranging a meeting between them. (The man provides a photograph and information as well.) Such meetings often take place in the restaurant of a posh hotel. The go-between is present, usually along with representatives from both families. If the young couple feel inclined, they will begin dating, with marriage as a possible -- but not inevitable -- result. It is not uncommon for a woman to have 10 or more such introductions before she finds the man she wants to marry.

The young man and woman make the final decision about marriage between themselves, though they seek the advice and approval of their parents and their go-between. Some Japanese feel that romantic love is not the most important ingredient in a successful marriage; perhaps this belief is borne out by the fact that the divorce rate in Japan generally is lower than that in the United States. The divorce rate for arranged marriages in Japan is lower than for love marriages.