Problems for People Divorcing from an Arranged Marriage

 Posted on July 10, 2018 in Divorce

From the perspective of Western secular society, arranged marriages seem immoral and unlikely to succeed. How could someone feel fulfilled in a marriage that has been forced upon him or her? Women are sometimes viewed as victims in arranged marriages because the practice commonly occurs in religious and conservative cultures that treat women as subservient. Forcing someone into an arranged marriage does not prevent him or her from using secular laws to seek a divorce. However, people in arranged marriages may feel pressured to remain in the marriage, even if they are unhappy.

Being Shunned

Arranged marriage is a tradition that is rooted in people’s religious and cultural beliefs. Parents agree to the arrangement because they believe that is what is best for their child and family. People who reject their arranged marriages are also rejecting their culture and may be ostracized as a result. A family may be angry at a relative who decides to divorce because:

• The divorce is breaking a marriage agreement between two families;
• The parents were closely involved in choosing the spouse; and
• Religious leaders and others in their community may rebuke them for the divorce.

Trouble with Independence

The women in arranged marriages are more likely to enter the relationship at a young age than the men. As wives, they may be expected to give up their personal goals and serve as housekeepers and mothers. A divorce could leave a wife vulnerable if:

• She does not have an independent income to support herself;
• She lacks the education or job skills to obtain employment; and
• Her family has shunned her because of the divorce.

A wife who is unable to support herself will likely receive spousal maintenance payments. However, the payments may be insufficient to meet all of her needs. She will need to learn how to support herself if she wants to break her dependence on her former husband.

Parental Responsibilities

Cultures with arranged marriages may expect spouses to raise their children to follow strict religious practices. A divorcing parent in an arranged marriage may choose to reject the religious practices as part of expressing his or her freedom. This may cause a bitter battle over the allocation of parental responsibilities if the other parent wants to continue raising the children by following the religious practices. The religious parent will argue that continuing the religious upbringing is in the best interest of the child and may seek a majority of control over parenting time and decision making.

Right to Divorce 

You may fear the consequences of ending your marriage, but your divorce agreement can solve many of those problems. A Kane County divorce attorney at Goostree Law Group can help you obtain financial security and protect your parental rights. To schedule a free consultation, call 630-584-4800.

Source:

https://medium.com/@VishnusVirtues/holy-matrimony-the-problems-with-arranged-marriages-a624c5e31c93