Arranged Marriages Have No Place In Our Society.

Although many people agree that a woman or a man is free to decide upon his/her life, in many Eastern countries this is not the case. In India, for instance, parents still have the obligation to choose a suitable partner for their offsprings and their children are obliged to comply with this order. Hindu culture takes this phenomenon as something pre-established, as something normal. Nevertheless, those Indians who have the opportunity to travel abroad, and be in contact with different cultures, feel this stark contrast of freedom of choice more deeply. It is then when they start questioning their posture.

Nonetheless, there are many Indians who maintain that arranged marriages are the best alternative. They assert that arranged marriages give them the possibility of not worrying about seeking for a partner: they have got other people to do the job for them. Some Indian men, for instance, find dating a daunting task, a frustrating experience. In the past, an arranged marriage simply meant that the parents found the companion they felt was suitable for their son or daughter. Although that method is still widely used, it has changed somewhat to suit the new times. Nowadays, the parents will suggest the person they feel is qualified for their son or daughter. If their child approves (after meeting the person and perhaps a brief interview) then it is final. In some cases, the children may even take the initiative to suggest whom they have in mind.

On the other hand, many countries have laws protecting person's rights to choose there own path in life. For instance Article 16 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that, "Men and Women of full age, without any limitation due to race, nationality or religion, have the right to marry and to found a family. They are entitled to equal rights as to marriage, during marriage and at its dissolution." According to this law a man or a woman has the right to choose his/her