Abstract

A foreign concept to many, but a way of life for others, arranged marriages exist in numerous countries around the world like India, Pakistan, and China. Even though arranged marriages are not common in the United States, they are prevalent in many other cultures around the world, like Hinduism and Judaism. They tend to have negative connotations in Western cultures because of movies and stereotypes. However, arranged marriages provide structure for the caste system and help families boost their economic status. A common misconception about them is that they are forced marriages when in reality there is still a choice. In most cases, the families allow the couple to meet and even date for a short period of time. Although arranged marriages are not normal to most people, they represent an important piece of culture in the Eastern hemisphere.