Arranged Marriage

This chapter provides an overview of the nature and scope of arranged marriage with a focus on India and South Asia more broadly - the region where such marriages are widespread. First though, I define arranged marriage and locate it over time and space on a global scale. Arranged marriage was practiced by much of the global population until relatively recently with the notable exception of Northwest Europe and its diaspora. This preface also touches on the complexities and ambiguities of arranged marriage, which leads to disagreement and confusion in both scholarly and popular circles. Turning to the focus on contemporary South Asia, I describe how the practice of arranged marriage varies across localities, religion/caste, and gender. I then discuss how marriage practices are shifting over time and do not neatly match the binary ideal types of arranged and self-choice marriage. I conclude by discussing the quality and longevity of arranged marriages, as well as noting areas for future research.