Understanding Arranged Marriage in India
Twamley (2013) analysed the influence of globalisation from the perspective of marriage and intimacy, finding that globalisation has not homogenize intimacy relationship around the world. The western type of intimate relationship based on free choice of romantic love is yet to be acknowledged and practiced on every corner of the world. India is famous in this regard due to the drastic contrast between its rapid economic growth and ingrained tradition of arranged marriage. Although marriage in India did have some change in accordance with trends of globalisation, this change is not substantial. There is indeed a tendency marked by more involvement of women choosing their future husbands, more acquaintance between couples before wedding, declined consanguineous marriage, and increasing inter-caste marriage (Allendorf & Pandian, 2016). However, this is merely ripple too slight to stir the water. A survey conducted by IPSOS in 2013 found that 74% of Indian population aged from 18 to 35 prefer an arranged marriage. Even in recent years, less than 10% of marriage in India were not arranged (Ahloowalia, 2009; Mackay, 2000). Inter-caste marriage, in particular, remains as a symbol of taboo in India. While inter-caste marriage is more common among self-choice marriages which account for less than a tenth of all marriages in the 2000s, less than 20% of self-choice marriages are inter-caste (Bowman & Dollahite, 2013).
What's more striking is that relevant studies of which all suggest arranged marriages in India are relatively happy ones (Epstein, Pandit & Thakar, M. 2013). Bowman and Dollahite (2013) find out multiple social, religious, and cultural reasons that can help to understand the secrecy of the happiness and satisfaction of arranged marriage in India. In the first place, good examples made by parents and family prepare the young for their marriage. Also, parents' rational wisdom can help to choose a good spouse in terms of social class, caste and education. Further, due to the influence of religion, household duties and family services are seen as sacred responsibilities shared by couples. Thus, couples spend considerable amount of time together for religion and family. Committed religious belief, in return, strengthen marriage fidelity. Therefore, shared social, cultural and religious background make the arranged marriage somehow happy marriage.
However, it is also notable that not all arranged marriages are successful. Some are abusive or coercive and it is estimated that love emerges in probably only half of arranged marriages (Epstein, Pandit & Thakar, 2013). Bowman and Dollahite (2013) state that understanding is mentioned by their interviewees as one critical factor to successful marriage and that love emerges if couples make efforts to understand each other. Yet, the willingness and ability to understand may depend on various determinants such as personal traits, education and level of reading.
References:
Allendorf, K. & Pandian, R.K. 2016. The decline of arranged marriage? Marital change and continuity in India. Population Council. 42(3), pp. 435-464.
Bowman, J. L. & Dollahite, D, C. 2013. "Why would such a person dream about heaven?" Family, faith, and happiness in arranged marriages in India. Journal of Comparative Family Studies. 44(2), pp. 207-223.
Epstein, R. Pandit, M. & Thakar, M. 2013. How love emerge in arranged marriages: Two cross-cultural studies. Journal of comparative family studies. 44(3), pp. 341-360.
Twamley, K. 2013. The globalisation of love? Examining narratives of intimacy and marriage among middle-class Gujarati Indians in the UK and India. Families, Relationships and Societies. 2(2), pp. 267-283.
Further readings:
Bhopal, K. 2011. Education makes you have more say in the way your life goes: Indian women and arranged marriages in the United Kingdom. British Journal of Sociology of Education. 32(3), pp. 431-447.
Donner, H. & Santos, G. 2016. Love, marriage, and intimate citizenship in contemporary China and India: An introduction. Modern Asian Studies. 50(4), Pp.1123-1146.
Dutta, S. 2016. The changing patterns and lived experiences of women pursuing higher education post-marriage in India. Journal of International Women's Studies. 17(1), pp. 169-185.
Pande, R. 2015. Becoming modern: British-Indian discourses of arranged marriages. Social & Cultural Geography. 17(3), pp. 380-400.