arranged marriage

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July 16, 2026

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An arranged marriage is a union where parents select the spouses for their children. This practice is a form of marriage, which is a legally and socially recognized union that establishes rights and duties between partners and their offspring. While most marriages historically involved a man and a woman, same-sex marriages have become legal in many countries.12

Societies have varying rules on the number of partners allowed, with monogamy (one spouse at a time) being common, while polygamy (multiple spouses) also exists. In cultures with arranged marriages, families often act as matchmakers, and a dowry or bridewealth is typically exchanged. The assumption in these societies is that love develops after marriage, with a focus on the socioeconomic benefits for the families involved.2

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family
Family law
…are still vestiges of the arranged marriage that once flourished in eastern Europe and Asia). The emancipation of women in the 19th and 20th centuries changed marriage dramatically, particularly in connection with property and economic status. By the mid-20th century, most Western countries had enacted legislation establishing equality between spouses.…
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…are still vestiges of the arranged marriage that once flourished in eastern Europe and Asia). The emancipation of women in the 19th and 20th centuries changed marriage dramatically, particularly in connection with property and economic status. By the mid-20th century, most Western countries had enacted legislation establishing equality between spouses.…
Read More

India
Family and kinship
Most marriages are arranged by family elders on the basis of caste, degree of consanguinity, economic status, education (if any), and astrology. A bride traditionally moves to her husband’s house. However, nonarranged “love marriages” are increasingly common in cities.
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Most marriages are arranged by family elders on the basis of caste, degree of consanguinity, economic status, education (if any), and astrology. A bride traditionally moves to her husband’s house. However, nonarranged “love marriages” are increasingly common in cities.
Read More