Love vs. Arranged Marriage

Marriage has been described as one of the oldest and most enduring human institutions however the reasons for marrying have varied extensively from period to period and culture to culture. In many cases marrying was predominantly an economic decision which determined the suitor that the family could find for the daughter. In some cultures a man's wealth was based on the size of his harem or the number of spouses that he maintained while in other cultures a young woman's family was expected to give a substantial dowry to her suitor. Throughout the centuries women have found themselves in a moderately submissive role in courtship, marriage, and their everyday life. Many women were traditionally married to older men chosen by the girl's father or in other cultures some nuptials were organized by older women in the community like a matchmaker whose opinions were seldom challenged by the people involved. In some cultures marriage is such a life-changing decision that many believe must be made by those with more experience rather than to leave the choice of a spouse to the young involved. Some find that a love match as a foundation for marriage is a better route to happiness such as in Western culture. Love, physical relations, and the joys of infatuation are described extensively in the Hebrew Scriptures as the best way for both of the spouses to live a happy and fulfilled life. Love matches in general allow women the freedom to make choices and have more control of their own happiness.

In love matches, women are able to make choices to better their futures. In the past “the practice of marrying for economic reasons” was common because women did not hold jobs, therefore, she needed to marry for stability and make a life for herself. I...

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