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Utilizing Arranged Marriage to Combat Decreasing Marriage Rates in Westernizing Nations

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It is predicted that within the next decades, the rate of marriage in the world will fall to

just above 50%, a shocking drop from the previous generations 85% (Applbaum, 1995).

Researchers have attributed this vast decrease with the lack of enthusiasm for marriage and the

lack of continuity of marriage-based culture. In addition to this, according to Keera Allendorf, an

associate professor of Sociology at Indiana University, Millennials are beginning to view

marriage as an outdated practice that does not agree with modern culture (Allendorf & Pandian,

2016). In conjunction with the downfall of marriage rates is the drastic decrease in the practice of

arranged marriage for the last 50-60 years (Nawaz & Jaweed, 2014). Arranged marriages have

been facilitated for centuries for the sake of financial and social security for someone’s children.

However, according to Daniel Kahneman, an internationally renowned psychologist, financial

security may not be as beneficial to one’s life as it seems (Kahneman & Deaton, 2010).

Furthermore, for centuries western culture has looked down on the issue of arranged marriage.

This is seen in Kate Chopin’s, “The Story of an Hour”. The short story revolves around a wife

who was abruptly informed that her husband had died (Chopin, 1894). Rather than mourning for

his death, however, the wife began to feel happy that she was now free from the chains of

marriage. This 19th-century novel shows that the discontent that Western culture shares towards

marriages that are not love-based. Given this culture, the increasing westernization of the world,

as well as the rapid increase in immigration to western nations in the past century, many

traditional values of non-western nations on marriage have been overturned. To further

exemplify this loss of traditional marital value, according to Kalman Applbaum, a professor of

anthropology at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee, in the 1970s the arranged marriage rate

in Japan was roughly over 50%. Now the rate has dropped to, in some estimates, around 25%
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(Applbaum, 1995). Researchers claim this is due to the disappearing cultural separation of

romance and marriage that has existed in many Asian countries for centuries (Applbaum, 1995).

Connecting these two ideas, a direct relationship can be identified between the increase in lack of

enthusiasm for marriage and the increase in love-based marriages, which should seemingly be

contradicting. This allows one to propose the question: To what extent has arranged marriage

impacted the marital satisfaction of couples in westernizing regions of the world during the late

20th and early 21st century? After much research, a claim that can be sufficiently supported is

that by partaking in arranged marriages overall marital contentment for the couple is greater than

that of a love-based marriage. This is a result of arranged couples having elongated and

psychologically beneficial marriages compared to non-arranged couples. In addition, arranged

marriages result in greater financial and social security, which generally create more marital

satisfaction. Given this, it can be proposed that a method to increase marriage rates and decrease

divorce rates of the upcoming generation in westernizing nations is to reintegrate the culture of

arranged marriage into these nations.

The strongest anecdotal and statistical claim supporting arranged marriages is that

arranged marriages experience considerable longevity compared to love-based marriages.

According to Ted Huston, a professor of Family Science at UT College of Liberal Arts, divorce

rates among love-based marriages are reaching an all-time high of 50%, while divorce rates of

arranged marriages have been around 5% (Huston, Caughlin, & Houts, 2001). One thing to note

is that the arranged marriage rate of 5% is also at an all time high, showing how the

implementation of Western culture in non-Western nations has also had an impact on marital

freedom. That aside, this shows that arranged marriages may last longer. Many may claim,
ARRANGED MARRIAGE TO COMBAT DECREASING MARRIAGE RATES 4

however, that despite the greater longevity experienced by arranged couples, the 50% of

love-based couples who do not get divorced experience much greater marital satisfaction as time

goes on, giving love-based marriages the edge in marital longevity. Refuting this, Xu Xiaohe, a

professor of sociology of marriage and family at the University of Texas at San Antonio,

conducted a study in which couples that were married autonomously (love-based) and

matchmade (arranged) were asked to report their marital satisfaction and love as time went on (in

intervals of 2-5 years) (Xiaohe & Whyte, 1990). The results showed that satisfaction in

autonomous marriages peaked 0-1 years after marriage and constantly decreased for the next 25

years of marriage. Contrarily, couples that were arranged had the lowest marital satisfaction at

the beginning of the marriage, which constantly increased until the peak at 25+ years of marriage

(Xiaohe & Whyte, 1990). One must take note, however, that the divorce culture of Asia is

drastically different from the divorce culture in Western nations, and, as a result, although many

of these love-based couples may have attempted to get divorced it was heavily discouraged. In

nations such as Japan, South Korea, and China divorced women are legally required to keep the

given name of their spouse (South Korea: Women fight to abolish patriarchal marriage laws,

2001). With this in mind, many of these nations view divorce as a deep, irreparable scar on

marital life and treat the topic with much greater discontent than Western culture. That aside,

given the study by Professor Xiaohe, it becomes clear that arranged marriages have a clear

victory in marital longevity. However, when looking at the data collected by professor Xiaohe, it

can be noted that the satisfaction peak of love-based marriages occurring in the first few years of

marriage is higher than the satisfaction of arranged marriages 25+ years after marriage.
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Given the fact that marital satisfaction for love-based marriages peaks higher than marital

satisfaction for an arranged marriage, many argue that although arranged marriages may

experience greater marital longevity, love-based marriages should experience greater general

satisfaction, as they are able to choose someone whom they wish to be married to, rather than

someone they are unfamiliar with. In a study conducted by Jane E. Myers, an internationally

renowned scholar of counseling, researchers asked people in arranged marriages in India and

people in love-based marriages in America to rate how they felt about various marriage-based

topics, such as love and loyalty (Myers, 2005). The love-based participants reported higher

numbers for love satisfaction, proving that love-based marriages do have the upper edge against

arranged marriages in a considerable number of ways. One must take note, however, that this

research contains many variables outside of arranged marriage and love-based marriages, which

could heavily skew the data. All love-based participants were American and all arranged

marriage participants were Indian which creates a tremendous cultural distinction even before the

type of marriage is introduced into the study.

In this same study, however, although the love-based participants reported greater

satisfaction in terms of love, arranged-marriage participants claimed to have greater general

satisfaction and satisfaction with the loyalty of the marriage (Myers, 2005). To further support

this, another study was led by Samra Nawaz, professor of Sociology at the University of

Sargodha in Pakistan (Nawaz & Jaweed, 2014). The researchers hypothesized and later proved

that general marital satisfaction was considerably greater in arranged marriages, mainly because

of social acceptance by those in their surroundings. If someone’s parents arranged a marriage for

them, naturally the parents will accept the couple to a much greater extent than if the marriage
ARRANGED MARRIAGE TO COMBAT DECREASING MARRIAGE RATES 6

was autonomously created. Given this, it becomes clear that arranged marriage experiences

greater general marital satisfaction, although love-based marriages have their perks.

Another reason that many may support love-based marriages is increasing independence

and autonomy it gives the participants in the marriage. This is clearly shown through Kate

Chopin’s “Story of an Hour”, in which, as a result of the presumed death of her husband, a wife

is ecstatic because of the various freedoms she had gained by getting out of a marriage (Chopin,

1894). This short story is not alone. In addition to this, most arranged marriages occurring in

westernizing nations take place when the bride is in her early teenage years (Tumbo-Masabo &

Rita, 1994). Without statistical analysis, it can easily be said that people should be able to choose

whom they want to marry. Going against this seems to be a strict violation of individual freedom.

However, this argument seems to be missing the original premise behind arranged marriages:

They are made in the best interest of the participants.

This is clearly seen when examining how the changes of a female being arranged

marriage are impacted by their level of education. Although this may seem unrelated, in many

westernizing nations upper-level education is pursued because of the will to live an autonomous

life free from parents. In a study conducted by Shahe Emran the author of many books on social

issues, researchers found that for every year of upper-level education, chances of arranged

marriage are dropped by 17% (Emran, Maret, & Smith, 2009). It can be inferred that the lower

the education level someone has, the greater chances of arranged marriage. This is a result of the

parents of the bride acting in her best interest by ensuring that she lives a life free from economic

struggle. Given this, although couples that are arranged may have less marital freedom than those
ARRANGED MARRIAGE TO COMBAT DECREASING MARRIAGE RATES 7

in non-arranged marriages, arranged marriages are generally made with a logical purpose in the

best interests of those involved.

However, is financial security a considerable factor in an arranged marriage. According

to a study conducted in cooperation with the American Sociological Association, dual-income

couples experience greater marital satisfaction (Cooper, Chassin, Braver, Zeiss, & Khavari,

1986). The reader needs to note, however, that this source being published in 1986 may limit its

relevance to the modern argument of the lack of excitement in millenials for marriage. That

aside, the study saw a specifically blatant correlation between dual-income families and the

comparative deficiency of major arguments and disagreements, which greatly contribute to

marital satisfaction. Daniel Kahneman, an internationally renowned psychologist, claims that

below an income of $75,000 many aspects of life including emotional pain, as well as physical

illness began to intensify (Kahneman, 2010). The average income of developing nations is well

behind the benchmark $75,000, making the financial stability argument considerably strong.

Given this, it becomes clear that arranged marriages truly generally are put in place in the best

interests of those involved.

Many continue to refute this, however, pointing towards data relating to abuse and

domestic violence. Firstly, most arranged marriages occurring in westernizing nations take place

when the bride is in her early teenage years (Tumbo-Masabo & Rita, 1994). This may seem

encroaching on one’s freedom, however, it is important to note that in many of these nations

women are not able to pursue education without risks (Tumbo-Masabo & Rita, 1994). Given this,

ensuring financial security early on in their lives seems to be the correct decision. When 750

women from Turkey, a country that has been culturally westernizing for almost a century, were
ARRANGED MARRIAGE TO COMBAT DECREASING MARRIAGE RATES 8

asked about marital violence, around 50% of them reported that they have had violence inflicted

on them (Şahin & Timur, 2010). The goal of the study, however, was not to determine the rate of

domestic violence, but rather to determine the most prominent risk factors. The most obvious of

these risk factors being forced marriage (Şahin & Timur, 2010). This argument of domestic

violence is used to fuel the claim that arranged marriages are inhumane and should not be

supported. However, one must take into consideration the vast differences between forced and

arranged marriage. Forced marriages do not allow any room for objection by the bride or the

groom, which is, more or less, a form of slavery. Keera Allendorf, an associate professor of

Sociology, claims that around 85% of arranged brides in India select their spouse with the

cooperation of their parents rather than their parents choosing alone (Allendorf & Pandian,

2016). In addition to this, forced marriages have been almost completely expelled from

westernizing nations such as Japan (Applbaum, 1995). Arranged marriage is when the family

takes the initiative to find a spouse, instead of their child finding a partner for him or herself.

This is usually done in the best interest of the child through the consideration of financial or

social well-being. Therefore, although many claim that arranged marriages can lead to very

increased rates of domestic violence, the correlation between arranged marriage and domestic

violence is limited to forced marriage.

After much research, it becomes evident that reintroducing arranged marriages into

westernizing societies may solve many marital issues, notably by increasing marital satisfaction

and longevity. In many westernizing nations, the abrupt change in culture has led to people not

actively searching for marriage, however, the decrease in arranged marriage rates has also led to

parents not attempting to find suitable spouses for their children. As a result, the use of arranged
ARRANGED MARRIAGE TO COMBAT DECREASING MARRIAGE RATES 9

marriage should be further integrated into nations with declining marriage and birth rates. Japan

is a pivotal example of this marital crisis. Although the change in demographics is one reason for

Japan's population decline, the birth rates have plummeted since 1970 corresponding to the

declining use of arranged marriage and matchmaking, as well as the increasing divorce rate

among young couples (Applbaum, 1995). Given this, it becomes clearer that the reintegration of

arranged marriage culture is a great option for westernizing nations that are experiencing the

lowest marriage rates and highest divorce rates ever recorded.

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References

Applbaum, K. D. (1995). Marriage with the Proper Stranger: Arranged Marriage in Metropolitan

Japan. Ethnology, 34(1), 37. doi: 10.2307/3773862

Allendorf, K., & Pandian, R. K. (2016). The Decline of Arranged Marriage? Marital Change and

Continuity in India. Population and Development Review, 42(3), 435–464. doi:

10.1111/j.1728-4457.2016.00149.x

Chopin, K. (2001). The story of an hour (Tale blazers). Logan, Iowa: Perfection Learning.

Cooper, K., Chassin, L., Braver, S., Zeiss, A., & Khavari, K. (1986). Correlates of Mood and

Marital Satisfaction Among Dual-Worker and Single-Worker Couples. Social Psychology

Quarterly, 49(4), 322-329. Retrieved April 30, 2020, from www.jstor.org/stable/2786771

Emran, M. S., Maret, F., & Smith, S. C. (2009). Education and Freedom of Choice: Evidence

from Arranged Marriages in Vietnam. SSRN Electronic Journal. doi:

10.2139/ssrn.1503946

Huston, T. L., Caughlin, J. P., Houts, R. M. (2001). The connubial crucible: Newlywed years as

predictors of marital delight, distress, and divorce. Journal of Personality and Social

Psychology, 80(2), 237–252.

Kahneman, D., & Deaton, A. (2010). High income improves evaluation of life but not emotional

well-being. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of

America,107 (38), 16489-16493. Retrieved April 30, 2020, from

www.jstor.org/stable/20779694
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Myers, J. E., Madathil, J., & Tingle, L. R. (2005). Marriage Satisfaction and Wellness in India

and the United States: A Preliminary Comparison of Arranged Marriages and Marriages

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Tumbo-Masabo, Z. Z., & Liljeström Rita. (1994). Chelewa, chelewa: the dilemma of teenage

girls. Uppsala, Sweden: Scandinavian Institute of African Studies.

Xiaohe, X., & Whyte, M. K. (1990). Love Matches and Arranged Marriages: A Chinese

Replication. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 52(3), 709. doi: 10.2307/352936

Şahin, N. H., Timur, S. (2010). Childhood Trauma, Type of Marriage and Self-Esteem as

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Violence, 25(7), 661–668. doi: 10.1007/s10896-010-9325-5