Anglo-American University: COM 102/2 - Arranged Marriage Advantages

This essay, written for COM 102/2 at Anglo-American University, analyzes the advantages of arranged marriages from a collectivistic perspective, drawing on research from Turkey, India, and China. The introduction establishes the importance of collectivism and its influence on arranged marriages, referencing studies by Hart, Bowman & Dollahite, and Xiaohe & Whyte. The essay explores how arranged marriages foster long-term benefits, including satisfaction, improved family relationships, and societal prosperity. The essay examines the cultural contexts of arranged marriages in Turkey, India, and China, highlighting factors such as family involvement, religion, and the decline of arranged marriages. The conclusion emphasizes the role of arranged marriages in strengthening families and religious groups, while acknowledging the decreasing trend in their prevalence. The essay uses several sources to support its arguments, focusing on the personal, familiar, and social levels of arranged marriages.

COM 102/2 – Fall 2020 Paula Morales
Anthony Marais Writing assignment #2
Conditional Love: The Advantages of Arranged Marriage
Paula Morales
Anglo-American University
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COM 102/2 – Fall 2020 Paula Morales
Anthony Marais Writing assignment #2
Introduction
Collectivism is the idea that provides purpose and meaning to the arranged marriages.
The ideas of collectivism and levels such as personal, familiar and social have been
subtracted and referenced from the articles of Hart (2007, p.349), Bowman & Dollahite (2013
,p.214) and Xiaohe & Whyte´s (1990, p. 710). Arranged marriages provide long-term
benefits ranging from the satisfaction of the spouses on a personal level to the improvement
of family relationships, ultimately contributing to a prosperous society.
Turkey
Hart (2007, p.349) states that in the early twentieth century, in Istanbul, historians
remarked the resemblance of low fertility rates among arranged marriages, a suitable age for
future spouses and unions between similar social and economic statuses. (as cited in Duben &
Behar, 1991, p. 95). At a macro level, these are all characteristics of a prosperous society. As
for society, it thrives as it is kinship centered (Hart, 2007, p.345). Arranged marriages allow
society to be kinship-centered, considering that it devalues qualities such as selfishness and
individualism and their members make decisions that promote collectivism. (Hart, 2007,
p.349) A description of an exemplary member is demonstrated when Tekçe (2004, p.174)
describes a wife from Istanbul who had an arranged marriage as a “a technical person,
encouraged by his father to appreciate well-reasoned discussions, and educated as a chemical
engineer to develop a technical approach to life.” The institution of arranged marriage seems
to spoil individual freedom due to the lack of say of the spouses, however it is not being
analyzed the impact of free will to the paternal authority in the traditional family, it might
separate and destabilize societies promoting a youth culture.(Hart, 2007, p.349) It is
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COM 102/2 – Fall 2020 Paula Morales
Anthony Marais Writing assignment #2
imperative then to have an objective analysis that focuses on a general and contributory
panorama to society.
India
At the center of Indian society and belief, family and religion prevail. Along with
them, traditionalism and ritualism are valued (Bowman & Dollahite, 2013 ,p.214). Arranged
marriages tend to have a greater family involvement and a better practice of spirituality as a
whole due to the common beliefs. In Jaipur, India, Bowman & Dollahite´s (2013) study
based on 33 interviews with arranged married couples found that the most mentioned positive
aspects are referred to “family involvement (173 references) and religion (155 references)”
these would be the reasons why they would describe their marriage as successful and long
lasting (p.211). Bowman and Dollahite state the importance in India of belonging to the
same religion and caste. Allendorf & Pandian´s (2016) research found that self-choice
marriages are more common in Adivasis and Upper class castes and less common in lower
castes , showing a decreasing tendency of arranged marriages within the indian
population(p.449)
China
Xiaohe & Whyte´s (1990) article, questions the statement "love matches start out hot
and grow cold, while arranged marriages start out cold and grow hot." as it has been used by
traditionalists to justify arranged marriages in China. According to these authors in love
matches the relationships start with an intense and romantic involvement, however this
involvement lasts briefly, due to the idealization of the relationship. Afterwards, the
relationship inevitably declines romantically speaking. It is then when the marriage has been
celebrated and the target has been achieved when life becomes more mundane (p.
710). Xiaohe & Whyte (1990) suggests that:
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COM 102/2 – Fall 2020 Paula Morales
Anthony Marais Writing assignment #2
Reality sets in, and some combination of domestic chores, child care
burdens, financial anxieties, and mundane life with a less-than-ideal
real life partner leads to a more or less inevitable decline in romantic
feelings and satisfaction with the relationship over the years (p. 710).
In arranged marriages the tendency is different, the individuals start their relationship
once married have been celebrated and after they can be properly acquainted, always having
in mind the prevalence of family and religion. With that basis, it is only natural that both
spouses try to bond and find mutual interests, enforcing their compatibility. This situation
allows the couple to build love, not only to bond but to survive better the course of the time
and that is the reason why many traditionalists situate the arranged marriage over the love
matches in regards of satisfaction. (p. 710)
The research conducted by Mo (2017) about the differences between crude divorce
rate and refined divorced rate in China show an increase of RDR rather than CDR. However,
the research supports the arranged marriages considering that the arranged marriages have a
lower rate of divorce and the overall rate of divorces has increased (1996 and 2013). (p.385)
Conclusion
From a collectivistic point of view, arranged marriages help families and religious
groups to bond and establish long-term relationships, at a personal level and in society. The
concepts of personal, familiar and social level are exposed in the three countries used to
support the arranged marriages. Even though they are still a suitable option, the tendency
indicates that they will slowly disappear, as per China study of CDR and RDR.
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COM 102/2 – Fall 2020 Paula Morales
Anthony Marais Writing assignment #2
REFERENCES
Allendorf, K., & Pandian, R. (2016). The Decline of Arranged Marriage? Marital
Change and Continuity in India. Population and Development Review, 42(3), 435-464.
Retrieved November 8, 2020, from http://www.jstor.org/stable/44015659
Bowman, J., & Dollahite, D. (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), 207-225. Retrieved November 8, 2020, from
http://www.jstor.org/stable/43613089
Duben, A. & C. Behar 1991. Istanbul households: marriage, family, and fertility
1880-1940. Cambridge: University Press.
Hart, K. (2007). Love by Arrangement: The Ambiguity of 'Spousal Choice' in a
Turkish Village. The Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute, 13(2), 345-362.
Retrieved November 8, 2020, from http://www.jstor.org/stable/4622953
Mo, L. (2017). Trends in the Divorce Rate and its Regional Disparity in China.
Journal of Comparative Family Studies, 48(4), 383-394. Retrieved November 8, 2020, from
http://www.jstor.org/stable/44509195
Tekçe, B. (2004). Paths of marriage in Istanbul: Arranging choices and choice in
arrangements. Ethnography, 5(2), 173-201. Retrieved November 8, 2020, from
http://www.jstor.org/stable/24047835
Xiaohe, X., & Whyte, M. (1990). Love Matches and Arranged Marriages: A Chinese
Replication. Journal of Marriage and Family, 52(3), 709-722. Retrieved November 8, 2020,
from http://www.jstor.org/stable/352936.
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