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Why are marriages often arranged by families in extended-family societies?
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Marriage
A Hindu couple being blessed by a priest during their wedding ceremony, Bali, Indonesia.
In societies where the extended family serves as the primary social and economic unit, marriages are frequently arranged by family elders rather than the individuals themselves. This practice is rooted in the belief that marriage is a significant alliance between families, where the socioeconomic advantages to the larger group are prioritized over individual preference.12
Key reasons for this practice include:
- Socioeconomic Strategy: Families place great importance on the practical benefits of a match, such as financial worth, social status, work ability, and the capacity to contribute to the family's collective economic security.12
- Inexperience: Senior kin often assume the role of mate selection because they consider younger individuals to be too inexperienced to make a choice that aligns with the long-term interests of the family unit.2
- Post-Marriage Dynamics: In these systems, it is often assumed that love between the partners will develop after the marriage, rather than serving as the prerequisite for it.1
- Social Stability: Arranged marriages are typically facilitated by a matchmaker and often involve the exchange of dowry or bridewealth to solidify the union between the two families.1