NOTE: Free essay sample provided on this page should be used for references or sample purposes only. The sample essay is available to anyone, so any direct quoting without mentioning the source will be considered plagiarism by schools, colleges and universities that use plagiarism detection software. To get a completely brand-new, plagiarism-free essay, please use our essay writing service.
One click instant price quote
Arranged Marriages (1) The concept of arranged marriages has been traditionally discussed within a context of people in Asia, Latin America and Africa exploring their cultural uniqueness, because the idea of couple getting married, without even knowing each other, does not make much of a sense to Western psyche. However, one does not have to be a genius to realize that the ever-increased number of arranged marriages take place in Western countries as we speak, despite the fact that prevailing public morality in these countries refers to marriages as such that are being conducted in haven, with God acting as main witness, during the course of a procedure. If we take a closer look at newly arrived immigrants from Third World countries, it will appear that they have no right to be here in the first place, because they often do not even speak English, which nevertheless does not prevent these immigrants from exploiting our welfare system, so that celebration of diversity, on their part, goes uninterrupted. The reason they were allowed to come here, is that they have entered into false marital relationship with American citizen or simply with someone who posses a Green Card, which automatically qualifies them to live in this country, despite the fact that they represent nothing but a social burden. In this paper, we will analyze the concept of arranged marriage from cultural and political perspectives, because it will allow us to come with better understanding as to what our attitude towards such marriages needs to be. (2) The historical evidence points out to the fact that the concept of arranged marriages should not necessarily be referred to as being wicked in its essence, as Christians would like to think. In fact, this type of marriages used to be quite popular in European countries, even before they were being invaded by the hordes of illegal immigrants, who exploit the concept of marriage in order to be allowed to stay in these countries.
Even as recent as hundred years ago, it used to be practically impossible for the representatives of European nobility to marry whom they actually love, without losing their social prominence. For example, in 1936, Edward VIII had no option but to abdicate, after he married the American divorcee Wallis Simpson. This is because the marriages of members of royal houses in Europe used to be prearranged for them, so that the blue blood of nobility would never mix with the blood of commoners. However, the original purpose of such marriages has been long forgotten and turned into a meaningless ritual. In fact, the reason why many representatives of European nobility suffer from genetically inherited diseases is that they were born as a result of their parents indulging in inbreeding practices. This is because arranged marriages in Europe, have traditionally being seen through social rather then biological lenses.
On the other hand, in India, the arranged marriages serve very practical role of preserving the stability of Indian society as whole. It is not a secret that this society is divided on castes, when only the members of the same caste are allowed to marry each other. Indians with lighter skin belong to higher castes, which is why they do not want their children to mix their blood with darker Indians, as it would automatically deprive them of their social privileges. The article, Love vs. Arranged, which can be found on the web site of I Love India, provides us with the insight on why the concept of arranged marriages remains very popular in India: Caste system gave birth to arrange marriages, as the upper caste families didn't want their children to marry outside their community and caste Arranged marriages, offer more protection, security to the women. As the parents decides the family.
Parents make use of maturity and wise decision while choosing suitable spouses for their children (I Love India). Apparently, Indians are well aware of the fact that the only reason men and women enter marital relationship is to give birth to healthy offspring. In its turn, their ability to produce such offspring directly corresponds to who they are, in hereditary sense of this word. Therefore, it is only natural for educated mature people to actually help their children finding their future spouses. People in Western countries often make a common mistake, while suggesting that the concept of prearranged marriage is incompatible with the idea of love. Such suggestion could not be further from the truth, because people who belong to different cultures have different understanding of what love is.
For example, White people associate love with passion, while Asians think of love as being more of a friendship then anything else. This is the reason why divorce rate in Asian countries is significantly lower then anywhere else in the world. At the same, it would be wrong, on our part, to suggest that arranged marriages are being progressive, in their essence, especially when we discuss them in conjunction with Islamic morality. In his article Marriages made in Hell, Nick Bryant tells the story of young woman in Pakistan, who was being forced to marry her prince charming, without even having met him, prior to the actual wedding: Born and raised in Britain, Sharzia was brought to Pakistan by her parents two years ago, mistakenly thinking she was attending a relative's wedding.
But it soon became clear that she, too, was being married off It was to a man she had never met, who physically and mentally abused her almost from the very outset (Bryant). As it appeared, Sharzia's parents were being paid $ 50. 000 by this man, who married Sharzia simply because he wanted to immigrate to Britain. Therefore, we can say that the concept of arranged marriage in Islamic countries is much different from what it is in Europe or India. Koran endorses true believers to refer to woman as simple commodity, who do not even have a soul, which is why, entering the arranged marriage for a Muslim woman, often means that she is being sold into slavery. In its turn, this has more to do with Arabs Semitic mentality then with anything else.
In European societies, many women used to play a prominent social role, even before the advent of Feminism. Even though that it used to be much harder for them to acquire social prominence than it was for men, under no circumstance can we say that they were being referred to as simple article of trade, as it is a customary practice in Asia even today. During Taliban's reign in Afghanistan, for example, women were required to cover their faces; otherwise, they would often be punished by death. If Afghanis or Iranians were Christians, their attitude towards women would not change, because it is a racial affiliation that defines individuals act more than anything else does.
Christianity and Islam are equally repressive towards women; it is only the fact that White people are idealists that prevented them from accepting womens inferiority to the same extent, as it is the case in Arab countries. This is why the concept of arranged marriage in Islamic countries is often being associated with crimes committed against women. In fact, it is also being associated with worsening of demographic situation in Western countries, which Muslims decided to benefit with their presence. In his article Inbreeding Causing Rise in Birth Defects, Paul Rodgers suggests that arranged marriages can be directly linked to the significant increase of the rate of genetically inherited diseases in Britain, in recent years: Inbreeding in Britain's Pakistani community is causing a surge in birth defects A lot of arranged marriages are with first-cousins, and that produces lots of genetic problems in terms of disability Although Pakistani parents produce just 3. 4 per cent of the babies born in Britain that also accounts for 30 per cent of children born with genetic illnesses (Rodgers).
Thus, we cannot discuss arranged marriages as being beneficial or counter-productive to people who practice them, without mentioning these peoples cultural and racial affiliation. As we have mentioned earlier, the arranged marriages are now being increasingly referred to as tool by those who want to emigrate from one country to another. Moreover, it would be wrong to suggest that only people from Third World countries utilize the marriage of convenience as such allows them to cheat the system. Many web sites openly offer their services, in looking for the suitable fiancee in countries like U. S, Canada or Britain, for those who are willing to pay from twenty to fifty thousands of dollars, in order to be granted a permanent residence in these countries. Immigration officers have an increasingly hard time, while trying to deal with false marriages, because they are not allowed to be present in newly married couples bedroom, during the time when the act of intercourse is supposedly taking place.
Therefore, we can say that the concept of prearranged marriages in Western countries had lost its original essence. It now allows many people to pursue with their agenda, despite the fact that they are being forbidden from doing it, by bureaucratic apparatus. In her article Arranged Marriages Becoming More Common, Officials Say, Marina Jemenes criticizes arranged marriages as tool of gaining permanent residence status, on the part of foreigners, while rightly suggesting that Chinese and Hindus are known to resort to this tool more then representatives of any other nationality, when it comes to immigration: It is often the cultural norm for Chinese Canadians and Indo-Canadians to marry virtual strangers in arranged marriages overseas, making it difficult for immigration officials here to assess the validity of these unions (Jemenes). It appears that in future, Hindus might become the second richest minority, after Jews in Western countries, because their religion tolerates polygamy, which in its turn will allow them to enter marriages of convenience on industrial scale, as part of celebrating their cultural uniqueness. (3) In order to conclude this paper, we need to say that the rate of arranged marriages in Western countries is likely to increase dramatically in the future, and we should not think of it as the solemn consequence of these countries being multicultural ized. Since Christianity had lost its religious credibility, the concept of marriage is being deprived of its aura of sanctity. Why the practice of signing a prenuptial agreement, on the part of future wife and husband, before they enter marriage, is being thought of as perfectly legal, while the practice marrying for the purpose of obtaining immigration visa is being referred to as something utterly evil?
They both serve very practical purpose and allow marrying parties to benefit mutually. The fact is, the conventional morality in Western countries had lost its ideological foundation, because only very naive people consider Jesus commandments seriously. This is why the practice of arranged marriages will become more widespread, as time goes by. People only live once and, if in order for them to be able to pursue happiness, they need to get married so that they can obtain permanent residence in the country of their choice, then why not do it?
Bibliography: Bryant, N. Marriages made in Hell. December 9, 2004. BBC News.
Retrieved June 15, 2008 from web Love vs. Arranged. 2007. I Love India. Retrieved June 15, 2008 from web Jemenes, M.
Arranged Marriages Becoming More Common, Officials Say. May 11, 2006. Immigration Watch Canada. Retrieved June 15, 2008 from web Jain, A. Is Arranged Marriage Really Any Worse Than Craigslist? . March 28, 2005.
New York Magazine. Retrieved June 15, 2008 from web Rodgers, P. Inbreeding Causing Rise in Birth Defects. 10 February, 2008. The Independent. Retrieved June 15, 2008 from web Nightingale, L. My Arranged Marriage Hell Victims Story. 22 March, 2008.
The Shields Gazette. Retrieved June 15, 2008 from web Abstract: This paper discusses the issue of arranged marriages as cultural tradition and as socio-political phenomenon, associated with realities of post-modern living in Western countries. Outline: Introduction Main part Conclusion
Free research essays on topics related to: western countries, arranged marriages, birth defects, third world countries, racial affiliation
Research essay sample on Third World Countries Arranged Marriages
