Introduction
Arranged marriage is a practice that appears strange to most Westerners. It is usually an integral part of the culture in the countries of South and East Asia and the Middle East, such as India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Japan, China, Israel, Iran, and Iraq. In these cultures, arranged marriages still occur, mostly in rural areas and ordinary families that follow old traditions. However, in the modern world, independence and free choice of every individual are valued highly, and this tendency seems to influence some traditional nations as well. This paper aims to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of an arranged marriage and explain why based on love between the bride and groom is better.
Body
Firstly, it is necessary to define the term “arranged marriage” and understand the purpose of such a practice. It is a marriage in which parents decide who will be the spouse of their child. The reasoning for that lies in controlling family relations and extensions. Throughout history, such unions have been arranged to secure a partnership in politics or business. It can also be a way to maintain or improve the family’s social status and reputation. Thus, a marriage of convenience does not consider the spouses’ preferences but serves to strengthen the financial situation or social status.
Even though some advantages of arranged marriages can be found, the drawbacks prevail. Besides, the effect on the spouse depends on how supportive and caring their parents are when they make a choice. If they do not merely chase wealth and reputation, the positives might include parents’ support and judgment-free attitude. The match might be good for the individual, and it is possible to get a rich and good-looking partner. However, the adverse outcomes are worrying, as partners are likely not to get along well if they have not met before or disliked each other. There is a risk that the spouse will reveal harmful habits, such as addictions or cheating, only after the wedding. Cultures that practice arranged marriage disapprove of divorce, promoting the negative consequences of an unwanted union with a disrespectful or abusive person. Besides, there are still concerning statistics of child marriage in the world, mostly when young girls have to espouse older men. Therefore, a marriage of convenience imposes a high risk of destroying a person’s life.
In contrast, a love marriage is based on the mutual decision of two individuals who know each other and wish to spend their life together. The couple knows each other’s habits, tastes, preferences, likes, and dislikes, making it easier to see if they can accept each other with all the flaws. A higher level of understanding between partners ensures that they can get along well and overcome such inevitable challenges as arguments and disagreement on some matters. The essence of the marriage is to be loved and give love to the partner, and with an arranged marriage, chances of a loveless union are high.
Conclusion
Ultimately, a marriage of convenience is a result of specific traditions and beliefs of some nations that still exist in some parts of the world. In any marriage, there are risks of fights, toxic behavior, abusiveness, cheating, and faded feelings for each other. However, in an arranged marriage, a person is deprived of the opportunity to decide who will be their life partner. For the marriage to work out, love and compatibility are essential. Thus, the decision to choose the spouse should be left to the individuals.