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History Of Arranged Marriages

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In India arranged marriages have had a huge impact on the world’s society since the Elizabethan Era , this is why America should and is getting involved. Arranged marriages are most commonly found in eastern cultures like India or Japan. Arranged marriages are when relatives, close friends, or priests arrange for a couple to get married. The marriages are used for purposes like gaining wealth, allies, or power even if that means the marriage is unfair. In order for both families to be benefited with wealth they must both participate in arranging the marriage Think of it as more of an alliance between families, not a Union of couples (source 2). Getting married this way gives women very little choice in who they marry and why. Along with …show more content…

One Indian girl stated, “It wouldn't be a stretch to say that Shadi, the word for marriage in many Indian languages, is the first word a child understands after mummy and papa” (source 7). Women, in arranged marriages, were to treat their husbands like gods and be obedient. Young brides have even been treated abusively, by husbands, to get more money from the bride's father or because they weren’t obedient enough. Girls feel objectified because ads are sometimes placed in the newspaper or websites about them looking for husbands and the price that must be paid for them. The two hardest parts of being in an arranged marriage is the fact that couples have to give up their freedom of choosing a spouse. Also, the fear that love may never grow between the couples;however, love sometimes can occur after the marriages. The sad truth is, families sometimes kill women for not accepting the partner that was picked for them and women can be forced into unwanted marriages. America has begun to address arranged marriage through new laws and policies concerning forced marriage victims. It is now illegal for the parents of the bride or groom to stop the couple in love from marrying who they want to marry. However, parents can still threaten their children by taking them out of the will. Dowries are also prohibited by law in India so the women can no longer be bought. This law helps prevent unnecessary deaths or injuries. Arranged marriages can sometimes fall into the category of violation of human rights, health endangerment, and education lose if done improperly. Pregnancy and childbirth complications are the leading cause of death for girls ages 15 through 19 in developing countries. One thing America has done to help with arranged marriages is come up with the Tahirih Justice Center organizations. These organizations help in protecting women and girls fleeing

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