For many, it might be a surprise to hear that arranged marriages are still prevalent. Even more shocking, 55 percent of the marriages that occur in the world today are arranged marriages (over 20 million unions globally).
At first, you might assume that these marriages end rather quickly, but that’s actually far from true. Even in the U.S. where the divorce rate hovers around 40 to 50, just 4 percent of arranged marriages end in divorce. In India, where arranged marriages are estimated to sit at 90 percent, the divorce rate is only 1 percent.
The Secret to Arranged Marriages
Over the years, the way arranged marriages take place has changed due to technology. The most significant change has been how some young people are given in their arrangement. The modern spin on arranged marriages has been negotiation. Family influence is still key in choosing a potential partner, but some young people are being given more power to say “yes” and “no”.
In fact, some young people in this situation welcome an arranged marriage. It takes the pressure of having to find someone “perfect” off their shoulders, especially when they are given free choice to say they like the individual or they don’t. The ability to form a union with someone with similar economic, social, and sometimes even political, status is also an advantage.
“In arranged marriage, you go in with no expectations, and with no expectations you’re always happy,” Anu Das explained in an interview to the Knot. Anu has been happily married to Ram for 6 years and the couple has a son together.
Wedding Bliss for Some, Not for Others
Diving a little deeper, it’s also obvious that many women have no choice at all. While some have greater say than ever before, others are given no choices or opportunities. In some locations like Niger and India, disturbing rates of child brides under 15 years old raises big red flags. So, while the modern trend has given arranged marriages a more positive spin, there are many situations still today that are covering abuse in the name of tradition.
All in all, the negative stigma around arranged marriages has less to do with the arrangement itself and everything to do with the act of forcing individuals into a union. Some actually prefer to have their parents do the legwork and then give the final say, while others are imprisoned into an arrangement without their consent.
Blair Thomas has been a music producer, bouncer, screenwriter and for over a decade has been the proud Co-Founder of eMerchantBroker, the highest rated high risk merchant account and adult dating merchant account processor in the country. He has climbed in the Himalayas, survived a hurricane, and lived on a gold mine in the Yukon. He currently calls Thailand his home with a lifetime collection of his favorite books.Blair Thomas has been a music producer, bouncer, screenwriter and for over a decade has been the proud Co-Founder of eMerchantBroker, the highest rated high risk merchant account and adult dating merchant account processor in the country. He has climbed in the Himalayas, survived a hurricane, and lived on a gold mine in the Yukon. He currently calls Thailand his home with a lifetime collection of his favorite books.