Arranged VS. Free-Choice Marriages Literature & Language Essay

Arranged VS. Free-Choice Marriages
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Arranged VS. Free-Choice Marriages
Introduction
The issue of arranged marriage versus free-choice marriage has been discussed for numerous years, with different individuals providing the pros and cons of each type. In free-choice marriages, both partners choose each other and decide to get married. The choice could be influenced by numerous factors, including physical attraction, love, emotional stability, similar interests, and other personality factors.
Conversely, arranged marriages involve a third party, who can be family members, relatives, or a matchmaker, to choose a partner. In different cultures and societies, either an individual may have or never have a choice on the partner that has been selected (Kothari, 2017). This is because such marriages are often influenced by the deep cultural and traditional beliefs that are practiced in society. This paper makes a comparison of free choice versus arranged marriages and identifies the pros and cos.
According to Regan (2012), arranged and free-choice marriages are practiced in different parts of the world, with some societies, especially the ones that practice arranged marriages, practicing both types of marriages. However, in Western societies such as the U.S., it is difficult to find a specific society that predominantly practices arranged marriages. Furthermore, Regan (2012) says that even in societies such as east and south Asia, South America, and the Middle East, where arranged marriages have been a longstanding tradition; there has been a decline in the prevalence rates. Furthermore, in contemporary societies, young people across the world have been given authorities of deciding whom to marry. Young people who live in societies that practice arranged marriages have been emulating western societies that are more advanced, and this implies it is possible to find both forms of marriages in both developing and developed societies.
Scholars argue that free-choice marriages are based on love where both partners can lead to a romantic relationship before and after they get married. This is because each partner is independent and spends time before selecting the most suitable partner. It also means that the final decision of getting married is made by an individual and the nature of the long-term relationship will depend on the way both partners relate to each other (Lamanna, Riedmann & Stewart, 2016). Furthermore, a free marriage is usually a reflection of the values of an individual, since the person that one marries is often influenced by the level of education, income, social status, and age.
When it comes to arranged marriages, one individual may have little choice in deciding the kind of partner that will be involved in the marriage. In certain situations, potential partners are usually introduced by parents, and these individuals are given time to understand each other before making the final decision. It is from this perspective that it can be argued that both free-choice and arranged marriages tend to be similar. Although the partners in arranged marriages may initially not be having any emotional attractions to each other, the emotional attachment tends to grow wi...