Marriages, Arranged

Marriage is a contract between two individuals, but when it is brought about by their parents or families and not the boy/girl who get married, it is known as arranged marriage. Since arranged marriages are brought about by people who are not the involved parties-bride or groom-love is no consideration at all. However, there are other, more important factors which become the focus of concern in arranged [Page 900]marriages. For example, the vocation of the groom is an important factor, although a bride's vocation is not considered as important. There are also, most importantly, caste, class, religion, family reputation, horoscope, age, language and other considerations. Matchmaking is sometime an obsession with parents and relatives in cultures where arranged marriages are in vogue.

Arranged marriages are often looked upon as means to ensure the lineage and tradition in the cultures practicing it. A couple sits on display at a wedding held in the small town of Pakistan called Qila Dedar Singh near Gujranwala.

Arranged marriages are common in Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Japan, India, and Nepal. Before 1949, when the Communists outlawed it, tong yang xi in China was very common. This was a form of arranged marriage where a girl from a poor family would be sent to a rich family even as a child. She would work as a slave, and in exchange for her services the family would marry a young male member to her once she became marriageable. The rich family would thus have a bride, as well as a free maid. This type of marriage was also practiced in Taiwan where it was known as shim pua; however, it went out of vogue after the economic prosperity of the 1970s, which made such arrangements unnecessary.

The Orthodox Jews practice shidduch, which begins with dating by arrangement by the parents and then works toward marriage with mutual consent. A more acceptable form of arranged marriage is prevalent in the rural parts of North America, Japan, and Iran. Parents introduce their child to the potential spouse and then the children manage the relationship if they are interested in marriage.

In fact, marriages are often looked upon as means to ensure the lineage and tradition in the cultures practicing it. Arranged marriages are linked with family honor, as love marriages are sometimes supposed to bring disgrace to the family. In fact, the system of arranged marriage was devised by the upper class in [Page 901]order to safeguard their caste/class/community from dilution by people belonging to an outside or lower caste/class/community.

Hence, there is a zeal to marry within the caste/class/community/religion. Arranged marriages in India are brought about by the consent of the groom and his family primarily, and little importance is attached to the bride's choice or consent. In bygone times, child marriage was the most evil form of arranged marriage, but with legislation against it, the evil tradition has to large degree died out.