The Absence of Autonomy and Agency on Young Women amongst the South Asian and MENA Diaspora in Modern-Day Arranged Marriages

In the West, marriage is conceptualized as a union between two individuals based on mutual sense of love, affection, commitment, and attraction that driven by finding “right” person, usually involves period courtship before settling down, with or without explicit consent members other than parties involved. On hand, institution arranged marriages—wherein family community elders select prospective groom for young bride, vice versa, factors like caste, ethnicity, religion, socioeconomic status, etc.—has remained intact in several developing nations, though it has declined substantially during 19th 20th centuries. However, Britain prevails to this day one few contemporary countries Western world which both institutions forced marriages continue take place, particularly almost exclusively within South Asian MENA context (Ballard, 1978). Forced marriages, definition, are characterized marry host reasons—whether out convenience, coercion, honor—and defined either parties’ lack will informed (Gangoli et al., 2011). While broader practice remains prevalent nations Southeast Asia parts Middle East, since centuries (Gupta, 1976).