Cultured marriages
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Hopefully, this week you have learned that marriages are thought about very differently in other cultures. This week, you are to read the two (2) readings on marriages in India that are in the Week 9 module (Arranging a Marriage in Indian and Dowry Deaths in India). After reading these, write a few paragraphs comparing marriage in India to marriage as we conceive of it here in U.S. In your writing be sure to address the following questions:
How is marriage different between the two cultures? Be specific here. Are there any similarities? Can you think of any advantages to arranged marriage? Today, marriage rituals are different in various different cultures. Indian marriage and U.S martial practices. Every country and every religion have their own traditions and its help to differentiate each other. Even though wedding ceremony has the same meaning in every culture, the way of celebration is different. An Indian marriage is essentially different from a typical American wedding. Indian wedding is about the association of family members follow the traditions, functions, customs while traditional American Wedding is about Bridal shower, Bridal Party, The veil, kissing the bride. Indian marriages start with searching the bride or groom as a part of arranged marriage. It is considered to be the most acceptable form of marriage till date in most of the communities in India. Both of families fully involved in searching for the bride or the groom. Usually both families’ parents have conversation with the prospective bride or grooms’ family. When the both families agree, they fixed the date for marriage. In contrast in the US, arranged marriage is not a common thing to do. The Bride and groom usually have gotten to know each other for a while. They have full power to make a decision for marriage and it’s a lot more open for some people. Meaning they can choose how and where and when they want to get married. In India wedding is the big and three to five days event while American marriages do not take too much time American wedding arrangements are typically done by marriage planner and only the bride and groom can decide what they want to do. In Indian families the whole family becomes involved and they make the decisions for the bride and groom. The homes of the bride and of the groom are decorated 5-10 days before as part of the decorations of this special day in India while In America homes are not important part of marriage as they don’t always celebrate at home. Traditional American weddings are organized in a place of worship, through modern day modifications have brought a realm of possibilities to practicing the wedding ceremonies. Though I am not one to be in support of arrange marriages for me or for my family, I can see how other cultures can find advantages to having pre-arranged marriages. Arranged marriage — a form of marriage in which partners are selected by family members or professional matchmakers — is not the norm in our contemporary Western culture, and so it's fairly challenging to find people in the U.S who are participating in arranged marriages. And even in societies with a longstanding tradition of arranged marriage, some research I did shows that prevalence rates have been on the decline for years. In comparison to adults in love-based, free choice marriages in which they personally choose their spouses on the basis of love. Studies have shown that men and women in both types of marriage reported high levels of satisfaction, commitment, and passionate and companionate love. The bottom line? Love, satisfaction, and commitment appear to be common outcomes in both arranged and free choice, love-based marriages, at least among Indian adults living in the U.S. For some in arranged marriages, it can be less stressful to find “the one” as the common American dream calls for. Also, if a family is behind the arrangement, it is more often than not a women or man of high class status and has a good future in store, promising security for the future bride or groom. Free choice marriages can often happen on a whim, or a high state of emotions in which not always is someone thinking it through with all the factors in mind too. Such as a secure job and income, educational goals and much more. Though both marriages seem to keep the spouses happy and content. The dynamics of marriage (arranged or otherwise) in other countries, in other environments, involving other people, might be very different. In the U.S., the line between "arranged" and "free choice" is probably a blurry one. People entering arranged marriages here may have veto power or the ability to say "no" to a potential spouse who doesn't please them or for whom they feel no attraction or affection, and people entering free choice marriages often are influenced by the wishes and feelings of their friends and family. Thus, there is an element of choice in arranged marriages contracted in the U.S., and an element of social influence in U.S.-made free choice marriages. Though india tends to stay strict on their arrange marriage practices. We might expect to find greater differences in love, satisfaction, and commitment in cultural contexts that support a clearer division between the two types of marriage. |
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