what exactly is an arranged marriage?

Julee Lanham: Normally an arranged marriage is one in which the parents of the two people marrying arrange the marriage. The couple marrying has little to no say in the decision as to who they marry. It's all set up (arranged) by their parents. The marriage that your boyfriend describes doesn't sound like an arranged marriage. It sounds like he found someone to agree to marry him for the sole purpose of him being able to become a citizen. In other words, a fake marriage. If this is what he did, it is fraud....Show more

Annabell Bevier: It is a marriage arranged by your parents and they decide who, when and when your going to marry. You would have very little to say if any about the marriage.

Arnoldo Budzynski: Its when someone's family or parents has arranged a marriage to their relative w/someone that they do not know, usually in the middle eastern culture.What they do is arrange for that person to get married to their relative or person, w/out that pe! rson knowing his/her bride to be, until that very day, or something like that!!

Estrella Northway: marrying someone you don't want, your parents pick a person out for u

Ronnie Barcus: a marriage chosen for you. you don't really have much of a say in it, and your parents choose who is the right man/woman for you.

Ivan Velazquez: Hi, i noticed alot of people on here have an arranged marriage confused with a forced marriage..In an arranged marriage, the families of both spouses take a leading role in arranging the marriage but the choice whether to accept the arrangement remains with the individuals. And yes, the individuals CANNOT be children to give their consent.On the other hand, a forced marriage is where AT LEAST ONE party does not consent to the marriage and some element of duress is involved. Forced marriage is primarily an issue of violence against women. Most cases involve young women and girls aged between 13 and 30 years, although, there is evi! dence to suggest that as many as 15% of victims are male. Curr! ently, some two hundred cases of forced marriage are reported to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office each year. Many others go unreported. Cases of forced marriage can occur in families from South Asia, East Asia, the Middle East, Europe and Africa. Some forced marriages take place in Western countries (UK, Canada, USA, Australia etc) with no overseas element while others involve a partner coming from overseas or a Western citizen being sent abroad.Parents who force their children to marry often "justify" their behaviour as protecting their children, building stronger families and preserving cultural or religious traditions. They do not see anything wrong in their actions. Forced marriage is not a religious issue; every major faith condemns it and freely given consent is a prerequisite of Christian, Hindu, Muslim and Sikh marriages.Often parents believe that they are upholding the cultural traditions of their home country, when in fact practices and values there have moved ! on. Some parents come under significant pressure from their extended families to get their children married. In some instances, agreements have been made about marriage when the children were very young. There's no specific criminal offence of “forcing someone to marry” but the law provides protection from the crimes that can be committed when forcing someone into a marriage. Perpetrators â€" usually parents or family members â€" have been prosecuted for offences including threatening behaviour, harassment, assault, abduction and murder. Sexual intercourse without consent is rape.Young people forced into marriage often become estranged from their families. Sometimes they themselves become trapped in the cycle of abuse with serious long-term consequences. Many women forced into a marriage suffer for many years from domestic abuse. They feel unable to leave because of the lack of family support, economic pressures and other social circumstances. They become isolated & may! live within a forced marriage for many years before they feel able to ! challenge the situation. They may feel they have no one to speak to about their situation. Isolation is also very real for those who have escaped a forced marriage or the threat of one. For many, running away is their first experience of living away from home and they suffer because of having to leave their family, friends and their usual environment. They often live in fear of their own families who may go to considerable lengths to locate them and ensure their return. In addition, leaving their family (or accusing them of a crime) will often bring shame on the young person and their family in the eyes of the community. For many, this is simply not a price they are prepared to pay.The needs of victims of forced marriage will vary widely. They may need help avoiding a threatened forced marriage. They may need help dealing with the consequences of a forced marriage that has already taken place. Your boyfriend seems to take arranged marriages very lightly, and if getting a ci! tizenship was the only reason, he & his wife must be very lucky, or there's ALOT going on that he is not telling you!! By the way, why does he have you as a girlfriend when he already has a wife? Id be careful about what you're getting into here.....Show more

Wilmer Skidmore: An arrange marriage is when your parents choose who you marry.