Arranged marriages

Marriages can be split into two categories, one of which is the love marriage commonly seen in movies, where after a long trial of hardship and such, the two lovers get married out of true love. However, there is a lesser known type, where marriage is arranged between parents of the to be husband and wife without their consent. Often, the to be couple have never even seen each other before, and their marriage is their first meeting with each other. One may think that arranged marriages only happened in the past, and would be impossible in today's society of outspoken youth. In fact, arranged marriages are still largely practiced in South Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and to some extent in Southeast Asia and East Asia.

"What is so wrong about arranged marriages?", some may ask. They feel that arranged marriages are beneficial for the parents' offspring, as the parents use the benefit of experience to help their child choose partners that they feel are most suited for them, with the best values. This would solve one of the problems in a love marriage, where the two sides marry on impulse and end up divorcing after the initial feelings fade.

However, I prefer a marriage of love, rather than arranged marriages. Imagine that one day, your parents suddenly announce to you that they have arranged a marriage to an unknown girl for you. What would be you be feeling? Shock, surprise or indignation? Marriage is an important part of a person's life, where he/she is partnered to another person for the rest of their lives, or until their divorce. Having to live and sleep with a stranger whom you just met is not a very welcomed situation. 

Additionally, in an arranged marriage, your parents or a relative chooses the partner for you. Mismatches, where the partner they chose does not get along with you well, are very likely to happen, as after all, they choose the partner that they like best, and not the one whom you might prefer. Living long term with someone who you cannot get along with well is not a very appealing prospect, and this would almost certainty lead to a divorce.

In conclusion, I feel that love marriages are preferable to arranged ones, as the chance of a mismatch is reduced, and it is better to get to know your partner better rather than find out who he/she is only on the day of marriage. Even though in arranged marriages, parents who are more knowledgeable help you choose a partner with the best values, if you are not compatible and do not get well with each other, the marriage will not succeed,