Essay about Marital Differences between India and the United States

Marriage practices vary across cultures. Every culture has its own way of conducting marriage according to their traditions and customs. Most cultures share common customs and practices, while some cultures have unique practices. Marriage refers to a social union agreed upon by the couples to unit as spouses. The union of couples implies sexual relations, permanence in union, and procreation. This research paper focuses on comparing marriage practices in American and Indian culture. There is significant difference between the two cultures in marriage practices.

The marriage is one of the best things to make a happy life. Many years ago, parents had arranged marriages for their children. In Asia, as the customs of Vietnam, parents who decide and arrange the marriages of their children. Normally, parents flanked by close friends so they wanted their children to marry parent friend’s children, and gratitude between them will be even stronger together. Additionally, parents arranged for their children to marry the wealthy children to give their children full life. Also, parents choose their child partners and it is their customs. These children have no right to disobey and reject marriage. Their children married without ever knowing each other or see each other 's face. According to the book “The Immigrant Advantage,” it has a story of the Indian girl married under the marriage arranged by her parents. Until now, the Indian customs that still exist. Not only in India, in other countries, there is still customary marriages arranged by parents. Vietnam is no longer

Furthermore, moving to India, marriage takes on a whole new meaning with different outlooks on what makes a marriage last. In the states, a marriage forms a bond between two people who exhibit the characteristics ready for the next chapter in their lives but most will end in divorce. For some couples in India, however, the parents pick who they will marry. Serena Nanda, a student at John Jay College, realized how ignorant she was about arranged marriages in Arranging a Marriage in India by finding arranged marriages offensive at first but then realizing how freeing, mysterious, and rewarding they are. Marriage in India is a

Those individuals who are proposed of the idea of arranged marriage ask the question “whether a parent can be trusted to find the right partner for a child” (Kolker, 62). These days parents and children argue about almost every single topic let alone finding a spouse for them. It sounds weird when a mother looks for brides for her grown son. But, marriage “as we understand it,

The author begins with the basics of marriages in India, explaining that arranged marriages are so common that marriages not setup have a special term. She goes on to speak of how the couples set to wed usually do not meet before the ceremony and that if they do, it is for only a momentary conversation after the decisions have been made. However, she points out, that if one person objects to the match that the parents agreed to, they do not have to wed.

Most people arrange marriages for their off springs because they think that they can find a more suitable mate for their offsprings and they believe that their offsprings should be married to someone of their own family status, the same salary and the same religion. Marriages continue to be arranged in order to enhance family resources, reputation, and alliances, and because parents and older relatives feel that they are more qualified than young people to make such decisions. In today's society parents are giving their children more power (not all the power) to make somewhat of a decision on who they're going to get married to. Some families still have strict rules on who their offsprings are going to marry but they still give

Article 20. Arranging a Marriage in India and did not “love,” so offended my American ideas of individualism and romanticism, that I persisted with my objections. “I still can’t imagine it,” I said. “How can you agree to marry a man you hardly know?” “But of course he will be known. My parents would never arrange a marriage for me without knowing all about the boy’s family background. Naturally we will not rely only on what the family tells us. We will check the particulars out ourselves. No one will want their daughter to marry into a family that is not good. All these things we will know beforehand.” Impatiently, I responded, “Sita, I don’t mean know the family, I mean, know the man. How can you marry someone you don’t know personally and don’t love? How can you think of spending your life with someone you may not even like?” “If he is a good man, why should I not like him?” she said. “With you people, you know the boy so well before you marry, where will be the fun to get married? There will be no mystery and no romance. Here we have the whole of our married life to get to know and love our husband. “This way is better, is it not?” Her

American marriages are based on the dream of meeting someone and falling head over heels in love.

Some cringe at the third world thought of arranged marriage. However, Ji Hyun Lee’s article in The New York Times titled, “Modern Lessons From Arranged Marriages”, begins to raise questions concerning how lessons from this culturally unique phenomenon may be able to aid in non-arranged marriages in the United States with the help of experts. Michael J. Rosenfeld, associate sociology professor at Stanford University claims, “I don’t think love marriage and arranged marriage are as different as we make them out to be.” He asserts that the concept of “love marriage” mimics the ancient art of pairing in “arranged marriages,” stating that individuals end up being partnered with another whom is similar to themselves in regards to race, religion, class background, and age. Senior Research Psychologist, Robert Epstein found that parental involvement is the key to a strong arranged marriage, as the parents screen for potential deal breakers in the couples’ relationship. Many in successful arranged marriages attribute the success of their union to their parents’ involvement. Dr. Epstein notes that in a nation such as the US, we celebrate independence and freedom of choice, which is likely the reason why so many view arranged marriages with such unwavering hesitation. Although he admits that the tradition of arranged marriages does not hold much hope in gaining acceptance today, he notes an undeniable fact: when 40-50% of all American marriages end in divorce, there is logic in

If they were to meet each other without the parent’s permission, it is considered as bad manner and bad upbringing. In India, the average age to marry is 24 years old for the males and 22 to 23 years old for the females. Indian weddings are usually the longest wedding, which are held in the night time in a huge wedding hall, that includes many different rituals which are performed in front of the God and the couple promise’s each other that they will be together in a sad or a happy moment, no matter what will be the results. Even though wedding has the same meaning in every culture, the way of celebration and ceremony is different. According to iloveindia.com, the ceremony in India is about the priest, groom, bride, and bride’s parents sit beneath a mandap, and a canopy. The wedding ceremony starts off with the Kanya Daan, in which the bride’s parents give away the bride’s hand to the groom with all her responsibility. Then the couple holds hands together and start circling around a small, enclosed fire in a ritual called the mangal phera for seven times by taking a seven oaths together to spend a rest of the life to live as a one soul. The seven steps around the enclosed fire, is the vow to support each other and live happily together. Finally, the groom will apply a red powder to the center of the bride’s forehead and tie a black beaded necklace around her neck, symbolizing

There are many unique concepts in marriages in India that differ from American marriages, such as arranged marriages. According to statisticbrain.com, “88.4% of marriages in India are arranged marriages”. The idea of having families set you up with your significant other is viewed as a very odd concept to people of American culture. Many other norms and traditions generally seen in Indian weddings differ greatly from what you might see at a wedding in America. There are many differences such as the traditions before the wedding and what goes on during and after.

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

Marriage is a bond between a man and a woman. Love is basic affection. How will I distinguish marriage from love? In America to show love and make a marriage a sacred entity, a commencement is prepared to make two become one. In India, this ritual struggle to exist. Marriages in India are just a business negotiation among two clients. I ask, in two countries, can marriage have different meaning? While some differences in marriages between India and the United States are apparent, the similarities are significant.

In a very small percentage of marriages that may be the case but it is not typical. Young people of the region understand that their parents know them better than anybody else and trust their choices. Matchmakers are a common practice in locating suitable mates. The traditional matchmaker in India is referred to as a Nayan. Normally, the nayan is a person that is familiar with the family and could be an involved friend or extended family member. They carry two basic roles: primarily as a locator of leads in relation to matches and secondary as one who negotiates among the family of the two parties involved. Several factors are taken into considering when attempting to locate suitable matches. The two main factors are the social standing of the family of the bride or groom along with reputation and also the dowry involved. When the two parties come to mutual terms regarding the marriage, the nayan can be of assistance in wedding planning and announcements in the community. They are not paid but welcome gifts in exchange for their services performed after the match is made. In modern times with social networking, internet sites are a very common tool used in the search. Control is still in the hands of the parents in suitable choices and it is quite possible for the bride and groom to not even meet prior to their engagement festivities.

Marriage is a huge part in our life. When a person selects a partner, there are many factors that play a part on it. Sociological factors play a huge role on why we chose a certain person. After selecting a partner, a person has to know if they are ready to marry them. However, they have to know their partner’s family history because this affects the marriage.