Question

Culture can play a significant role in mate selection. Discuss this issue in terms of the success of arranged marriages and the types of dimensions that are viewed as “important” by various cultures.   

Answer 1

Culture is the collection of customs, traditions and social behaviour of a particular group or society.
Marriage is the union of two people in a relationship. It is a social institution.

Culture and Mate selection:
Both culture and mate selection is inter related. One's cultural background plays a vital role in his/her partner selection and type of marriage. Different culture follows different norms and tradition for marriages. Partner selection is tied to rituals and ceremonies that bound the relationship. For example, according to the Indian culture, marriage is considered to be sacred. So the mate selection is purely done by the elders in the family; where the selection criteria would be based on the socio-economic status and religion. In western culture, people believe that choice of their mate is their right, whereas in eastern societies it is the right of elders in the family to choose right partners for their fellow younger ones.

Arranged marriage and culture’s influence

The tradition of arranged marriage is so prominent is Eastern based cultures; however, once it was equally popular in the western part as well. Different cultures believe that arranged marriage will allow the couples to stay vigilant in their religious beliefs.
Arranged marriage is the process of uniting not only two members, but also their respective families. Different cultures support arranged marriages as its success rate is high. They believe that the following dimensions are the main reasons for its success rate :

1. Parental control.
2. Financial security.
3. Religious control.
4. Societal acceptance.

Parental Control: In arranged marriages, parents are involved in the selection of life partners for their children. So they will always be under the supervision of their parents; and the parents have the authority to indulge and sort out the issues that may arise among the couples in the future.

Financial Security: Financial stability in one of the major selection criteria in the selection process in arranged marriages. Parents will be looking for alliance where they feel their children have financial security. Besides this, in arranged marriages, the couples would be getting financial assistance from both their parents.

Religious control: Arranged marriages are tied to rituals and customs. So the couples will always have the acceptance, blessings and supervision from their religion. In arranged marriages they are bound to follow the traditions in their religion.

Societal acceptance: As arranged marriages are done under the supervision of parents and elders in the family, the social acceptance for the relation would be more. As social being, we need to have the acceptance of society which is so ensured in arranged marriages. And this acceptance would be beneficial for the future generations as well.