Arranged Marriages: On American Soil, Never! Well Think Again

 Posted on May 13, 2016 in Family Law

There are many misconceptions about arranged marriages, but historically, arranged marriages are conceived out of family tradition and not religious beliefs. Another misconception is that these types of marriages are never forged on American soil, however, that is not true.

Although for the majority of Western society, the concept of an arranged marriage may sound ludicrous and leave many confused and wondering where is the love in all of this. As the United States thrives as a true melting pot of culture, the concept of an arranged marriage presently still occurs in the Hindu, Orthodox Jewish, Muslim, African, and Amish present day cultures, just to name a few. Actually, arranged marriages were the norm in Western culture up until the late 1700s, but after that, love was introduced into the marital equation. Soon followed the advent of spousal abandonment and divorce.

Historically, Eastern cultures have been arranging marriages for ages as a means to strengthen the community or to successfully combine families to advance the economic, political or social standing of each family.

So back to the future, as American culture currently concentrates on online, blind, and speed dating to find that special someone. Not working you say, then perhaps an arranged marriage could be the next relationship trend but can it work?

Perhaps, following are the top three positives of entering into an arranged marriage.

A Stable Future

Couples in an arranged marriage tend to grow their love for one another over time. In today’s arranged marriage scenario, the couples are first provided time to bond before the actual wedding date and have the option to move forward or not, decreasing the rate of divorce.

Happy Family, Happy Life

As both families are invested, the future Mr. and Mrs. can count on the love and support on both sides of the proverbial inlaw fence. This concept tends to strengthen the marital bond and if applicable, plays a vital role in financial stability. In this situation the infamous, “take my mother-in-law, please” does not come into play as families on both sides will opt to pledge that they are willing to accept the bride or groom into the family.

Love Conquers All, Eventually

Research concludes that love does make an appearance to the marriage but only after trust and understanding have been established. Often, those in arranged marriages confess to a stronger bond than couples who traditionally wed on the assumption that true love never dies.

As in any culture, a little rain can fall, as we know when there are positives, the negatives can not be too far behind. Based on case study, the top two negatives, often ending with a visit to a qualified divorce attorney are:

• Contribution to the divorce rate: Researchers believe that for some couples the realization that they are right for one another leads to divorce; and
• Lack of established trust: If compatibility is an issue, then couples facing hurdles in an arranged marriage negate the ability to build a relationship based on trust, once again another factor that leads them to consulting with a divorce attorney.

No matter where your marital journey began, whether a result of an online relationship, a chance blind date or the product of an arranged marriage, the qualified Hinsdale divorce attorneys of the Law Office of Martoccio & Martoccio can help. With over 75 years of combined legal experience, our legal team understands the conflicts often associated with the dissolution of any type of civil union. Contact our offices today to discuss how we can assist with protecting international assets, maintenance support, and all family law matters.

Sources:

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2011-07-27/news/ct-x-0727-arranged-marriages-20110727_1_marriages-family-traditions-stephanie-coontz

http://www.lifescript.com/well-being/articles/a/arranged_marriages_in_todays_world.aspx

http://www.yourtango.com/201056192/arranged-marriage-america-it-you

http://apecsec.org/arranged-marriage-pros-and-cons/