Arranged marriages: the differences between American and Indian marriages

Extract

[...] Arranged marriages: the differences between American and Indian marriages Marriage, which is the bonding of two individuals usually for the rest of their lives, can occur in many ways. In some cultures, such as that of the United States, men and women decide on their own whom they would like to marry. This type of system is representative of American culture in general, which is very independent and relies upon the self. In other countries such as India, people are more concerned about the unity and name of the family rather than the reputation of just one individual. [...]

[...] This may seem unusual considering that the Indian couple has never met each other and seems unlikely to get along, but it proves that the parents do a careful and efficient job in selecting the mate. Indians believe that a marriage based on love is unacceptable because the couple is too young to consider the costs and benefits of the marriages as well as their parent's can. Indians tend to marry very early, and their rates of marriage are higher than rates in countries such as the United States. [...]

[...] It is difficult to say with certainty whether or not the people in an arranged marriage are happy, or whether they hide their disappointment because they have no way out anyway and might as well make the most of it. The answer is probably somewhere in between and varies on a case-by-case basis. Some may be truly happy with their marriage as a result of good decision-making by the family and luck, while others may find that the personalities between themselves and their spouse were never meant to be joined. [...]

[...] After a marriage occurs, the wife moves in with the family of the husband to live in separate quarters. According to Chandrasekhar, a joint family when the sons grow up to manhood and marry, they do not leave the parental household and set up their own separate houses, but occupy different rooms in their parental residence (Chandrasekhar 338). Houses often have to be very large to suit the needs of so many people living under one roof. In a joint family, the father and mother are honored, and the father is the head of the family. [...]

[...] It is important to understand the differences between a Western/U.S. marriage and an Indian arranged marriage in order to decide which system is more effective and stable in the long run. In Western societies such as the United States, marriage is viewed as the union between a man and woman who mutually love and respect each other. The function of this union usually is to create a family and live a happier and more fulfilling life. Marriage in the United States is so common that people who are unmarried at a late age are often looked down upon as unsuccessful or unaccomplished. [...]