Context of Traditional Arranged Marriages in India: Family Life

A typical large family in India. 

In India, families (most specifically parents) play a large, important role in choosing their son or daughters spouse in arranging their marriage. An Indian man/woman does not only marry their spouse, but the family as well. Who a family’s son or daughter marries, and the qualities of the spouse does not only reflect the status of the couple but also the status of the family in society. Because of this, traditionally parents would take it upon themselves to arrange a marriage for their son or daughter.

Family Life: Potential Spouse Qualities  

Because the person that marries into a family very important in Indian culture, there are various qualities and characteristics that parents look for when choosing a potential partner for their children. Some qualities families look at are included in the chart below.

Common qualities that parents in India look for in a potential spouse for their child.

Although the qualities shown above are most commonly considered by parents when determining a spouse, there are other aspects that parents take into consideration. One of the qualities listed above was caste. Traditionally, it was almost unheard of for someone to marry someone from another caste. This goes along with the quality of religion, because someone of a different religion would be a different caste. Also, the aspect of family status is important to parents when picking a potential spouse for their children, so that their child marries into a family with an honorable and high economic and social status. Education levels and dowry size are other qualities considered since those of a higher status usually have more educational qualifications and higher dowries. Appearance is also looked into, but is less common then the others. Appearance is usually taken into account when parents want their child to feel happy about who they are marrying, so they would search for someone of a high status that meets all of their qualifications, who is also attractive to the potential bride/groom (Choosing an Arranged Marriage Partner).

 

A man of higher status proposes to a woman of a high status. 

 

Also, it is common for parents to follow certain apparent “rules” or commonly occurring patterns when choosing a potential spouse for their son/daughter to make sure their child marries well. Some of them are:

• Never fall in love with someone from another Caste
• Never marry someone from a different religion
• Marry someone respectable in society (High social status)
• Marry someone with a good, stable job (Educational Qualifications)

These rules (Modern Struggle with Arranged Marriage ), along with the qualities listed in the chart above, go hand in hand with aspects parents look for in a potential spouse for their child. These rules are normal standards apparent in Indian society which cause Indian families to follow. Families choose spouses for their children based upon the above statements not only because they believe he/she is a perfect match for their child, but because the family would be more respectable in society by following the standards that are set by society.