An arranged marriage is a type of marital union where the bride and groom are primarily selected by individuals other than the couple themselves, particularly by family members such as the parents. In some cultures, a professional matchmaker may be involved in the process. Arranged marriages were very common throughout the world until the 18th century, and they continue to varying degrees in most parts of the world.
There are different types of arranged marriages, including:
- Arranged exogamous marriage: a third party finds and selects the bride and groom irrespective of their social, economic, and cultural group.
- Arranged endogamous marriage: a third party finds and selects the bride and groom from a particular social, economic, and cultural group.
- Non-consanguineous arranged marriage: the bride and groom do not share a grandparent or near ancestor.
- Modern arranged marriage: the parents choose several possible mates for the child, sometimes with the help of the child, and the two children will often have a short unsupervised meeting, such as an hour-long walk around the neighborhood.
Arranged marriages are a matter of debate and disagreements. Activists argue that they can be coercive and violate human rights, while proponents argue that they can lead to stable and happy marriages.
