Post by Gator on Feb 15, 2019 6:43:42 GMT -5
A forced marriages occur when one or both participants have been pressured into entering matrimony, without giving their free consent. They may have been emotionally blackmailed, physically threatened or abused.
Some young people, especially of South Asian origin, have been taken on visits to the subcontinent by their families, unaware of plans to marry them off. Passports have been confiscated to prevent them returning home. Those that have been - or fear being - forced into marriage can become depressed and frightened, develop mental and physical health problems and harm themselves.
A number of those trying to escape unwanted unions have even become victims of honour-based violence or committed suicide. No major world faith advocates forced marriages although some may try to justify it on religious grounds. The practice crosses boundaries of culture and class and happens worldwide, but it especially concerns those living in and originating from Asia.
A forced marriage is not the same as an arranged marriage, which may have been set up by a relative or friend, but has been willingly agreed to by the couple. Most people - at least if they're from a Western country - think of an arranged marriage as something the parents have arbitrarily decided on, with no thought as to what the child really wants. It is as if love is too frivolous a thing to base a lifelong commitment on.
If either the son or daughter refuse the choice, the parents tend to respect their wishes and will find someone else. The main motivation factor in such marriages is not the happiness of the son or daughter, but the standpoint that "parents know best". That said, the parents will often exert considerable pressure on their child to marry the person they have chosen, because they do strongly believe that they really know best.
Some young people, especially of South Asian origin, have been taken on visits to the subcontinent by their families, unaware of plans to marry them off. Passports have been confiscated to prevent them returning home. Those that have been - or fear being - forced into marriage can become depressed and frightened, develop mental and physical health problems and harm themselves.
A number of those trying to escape unwanted unions have even become victims of honour-based violence or committed suicide. No major world faith advocates forced marriages although some may try to justify it on religious grounds. The practice crosses boundaries of culture and class and happens worldwide, but it especially concerns those living in and originating from Asia.
A forced marriage is not the same as an arranged marriage, which may have been set up by a relative or friend, but has been willingly agreed to by the couple. Most people - at least if they're from a Western country - think of an arranged marriage as something the parents have arbitrarily decided on, with no thought as to what the child really wants. It is as if love is too frivolous a thing to base a lifelong commitment on.
If either the son or daughter refuse the choice, the parents tend to respect their wishes and will find someone else. The main motivation factor in such marriages is not the happiness of the son or daughter, but the standpoint that "parents know best". That said, the parents will often exert considerable pressure on their child to marry the person they have chosen, because they do strongly believe that they really know best.