Received: 03 December 2019 Revised: 02 January 2020 Accepted: 20 January 2020 Published online: 31 January 2020
e-Journal of Media & Society
THE LEVEL OF ACCEPTANCE TOWARDS ARRANGED MARRIAGES
Puteri Diyana Mohd Azizi, Syed Muhammad Azree Wan Madhi, Nur Afiqah Syazwina Sharifuddin, Mohd Amirul Syafrizal Mohd Zaki, Haziq Danial Rahim & Luqman Hakim
Mohd Idris
Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Cawangan Melaka, Kampus Alor Gajah
Correspondent email: [email protected]
ABSTRACT
The purpose of this research is to know what is the level of acceptance in arrange marriage among Malaysians community as an applied quantitative research method through answering a survey. Arranged marriage is an act where a bride and groom are selected by individuals other than themselves, usually parents. Also, arranged marriage in Malaysia is a traditional way of marriage in the Muslim society in Malaysia that still lives even though it is not considered as the norm in this new era. According to Gaille (2017), statistic shown that 55% of the marriages that occur in the world today are arranged marriages. The factor of arranged marriages is sometimes very complex. Researchers found in their study that people nowadays mostly do not agree with arranged marriage (M= 2.45). 62.8% of respondents does not agree with arranged marriage while 37.2% of respondents agree if their parents were to arrange their marriage.
Keywords: Arranged marriage, Parents, Muslim.
INTRODUCTION
Arranged marriage is an act where a bride and groom are selected by individuals other than themselves, usually parents. Arranged marriage was considered a common thing until the 18th century, especially among immigrants in the United States. After most of them settled down, arranged marriage had changed to quasi-arranged marriage, and later on autonomous marriage in which decisions are made by an individual’s choice and preference Ghimire (2006). In the past there are enforcement on any woman who refuses to go through an arranged marriage. It is because those who commit the sins are considered to be dishonouring the family’s name and social status.
There are a lot of causes that affects the decision of arranged marriage such as religion, bride-wealth. Arranged marriage in Malaysia is a traditional way of marriage in the Muslim society in Malaysia that still lives even though it is not considered as the norm in this new era.
Besides, the young generations in Malaysia mostly think that arranged marriage is like betting or investing on something that is unclear. This is because they think that love may or may not blossom between an arranged marriage couple. However, arranged marriage is still happening in Malaysia. The families or relatives usually act as the matchmaker.
For those that are still practicing arranged marriage, there are usually reasons behind the execution or tradition, usually to organize relationship between families. These arrangements are usually created by the couple’s parents or grandparents to establish a mutually beneficial relationship that could maintain or improve their status in society. The researchers said that the families believed that arranged marriage can form a relationship that is based on more than just emotions because the relationship is more like a business partnership rather than a personal one and that will make the couple will stick with each other.
Other than that, researchers found that the families also think that arranged marriage can reduce the amount of conflicts in the home. For instance, the percentage of divorce in arranged marriage is lower than the normal marriage because the parents and the couple themselves have agreed on the arrangements made by their families, making their marriage life to be happier. Apart from that, the most common answers researchers get from arranged marriage families is it can maintain family traditions, culture and identity. This is because preserving and continuing their tradition has become a priority as cultural heritages could be easily forgotten by the society. Thus, in order to preserve what is left for the future generations, arranged marriage is executed. The partnership qualities of the couple make it easier for families to supervise them. That is why arranged marriage is still happening in Malaysia.
PROBLEM STATEMENT
Arranged marriage is where the bride and groom are selected by a third party which is both families’ choice rather than by each other. According to Yaried (2013), arranged marriage is very common in royal and aristocratic families’ around the word. However, in this era, arranged marriage is still practiced in South Asia, Africa and the Middle East. According to Arranged Marriages in Today’s World (2017), the terms of arranged marriage is most popular and common among Southeast Asia people such as in India but not in Western cultures. For most people who are raised in the Western cultures, the idea of arranged marriage sounds very strange, old-fashioned and even misogynistic. Arrange marriage offer also have so many arguments to ensure happiness and also healthy family life in their life. Arranged marriage is very common during ancient times. These are the factors that affect the decision of arranged marriage such as wealth, both families’ health, family reputation, decision by the parents themselves, appearance and more. According to Gaille (2017), statistic shown that 55% of the marriages that occur in the world today are arranged marriages. The factor of arranged marriages is sometimes very complex.
RESEARCH QUESTIONS
1. What is the level of acceptance towards arranged marriage?
2. What is the main factor that affects the decision of arranged marriage?
RESEARCH OBJECTIVES
1. To identify the level of acceptance towards arranged marriage in Malaysia.
2. To identify the main factor of arranged marriage.
LITERATURE REVIEW
Arranged marriage is an act where a bride and groom are selected by a third party which is both families’ choice rather than each other. According to Yaried (2013), arranged marriage is very common in royal and aristocratic families’ around the world. However, in this era, arranged marriage is still practiced in South Asia, Africa and the Middle East. These are the factors arranged marriage which are family factor, wealth, and health. Firstly, arranged marriage can benefits to the family because the couple can be blessed by both parents from each side with this, the couples can live happily in their marriage. According to Ayres (2018), arranged marriage can also create harmony within both families. It can maintain the family’s tradition such as festive season like Hari Raya, Christmas, Chinese New Year, Deepavali and many more. Furthermore, arguments between a couple can be avoided because both families are close. Secondly, arranged marriage can benefits to the family’s wealth because it probably can expand the families’ business by joint venture, by this, they can secure their future economic stability. According to Smock (2018), getting married increases wealth and income.
The parents from each side know that by doing the share partners, they can keep the money and the profit running in the future and to all their generation. In addition, arranged marriage can ensure their children’s education in the future by using the families’ wealth. For example, the children can further their studies to even more high level such as Diploma, Degree, Master, or PHD. Moreover, arranged marriage couples can use their families’ wealth on investments for the benefit of the family so that they can earn more money and earn more profit from the investment that has been controlled by their parents. Lastly, arranged marriage can prevent couples from getting harmful diseases such as STD, HIV, Aids, Syphilis and many more.
As an example, the parents can prevent their children from marrying a person with some types of disease.
According to Shmerling (2016), married people enjoy better health than single people.
Moreover, arranged marriage can prevent the children in the future generation from getting harmful hereditary diseases such as diabetes, high-blood pressure, cancer, heart disease, epilepsy, down-syndrome, and many more.
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
For the research, researchers have chosen Quantitative Research Method. Quantitative methods emphasize objective measurements and the statistical, mathematical, or numerical analysis of data collected through polls, questionnaires, and surveys, or by manipulating pre-existing statistical data using computational techniques. Quantitative research focuses on gathering numerical data and generalizing it across groups of people or to explain a particular phenomenon. This method can explain and prove more about the topic that the researchers choose for the assessment.
Researchers chose quantitative method by making a survey on a Google Forms on the 13th of May 2019. In the survey, the researchers include 40 questions regarding on arranged marriage. The researchers chose this topic to get feedback from the teenagers and also to the people who have relationship issues with their couples regarding on arranged marriage.
Quantitative method is suitable for this research and topic because it is easy by collecting data regarding opinions of the people outside. This method which is quantitative been shared to group chats, social media such as Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and many more so that it can be easier to be exposed to the people in Malaysia and get their opinions by doing the survey on google form on the topic of ‘Arranged Marriage In Malaysia’. Researchers received 310 respondents.
Profile Frequency Percentage(%)
Sex Female Male
207 103
66.8%
33.2%
Ethnicity Malay Chinese Indian Iban Bidayuh Melanau Others
271 8 13 5 2 4 6
87.7%
2.6%
4.2%
1.6%
0.6%
1.3%
1.9%
Marital Status Single Married Divorced
231 69 8
75%
22.4%
2.6%
Occupational Status Students
Working with the government Working with the private sector Unemployed
184 34 64 26
59.7%
11%
20.8%
8.4%
Highest Education PMR
SPM
STPM/ Matriculation/ Diploma Degree
PHD
184 34 64 26 2
1.6%
27.7%
40.1%
25.1%
1%
Region
Northern Region (Perlis, Kedah, Penang, Perak) East Coast Region (Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang) Central Region (Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Putrajaya) Southern Region (N. Sembilan, Melaka, Johor) Sabah and Sarawak
5 85 123 77 3
8.8%
5.8%
48.1%
16.2%
21.1%
Income RM 0-1000 RM 1001-5000 RM 5001- 10,000 RM 10,00 and above
27 18 148 50
62.3%
22%
12%
3.7%
Current Living Arrangement
Living with parents 65 43.7%
FINDINGS AND DISCUSSIONS SECTION A:
The Level of Acceptance Towards Arranged Marriage
Do you agree if your parents were to arrange your marriage for you?
Frequency Percentage (%)
Yes 115 37.2%
No 194 62.8%
Do you believe that arranged marriage brings greater harmony for both couple and families?
Frequency Percentage (%)
Yes 143 46.3%
No 166 53.7%
SECTION B
Table 1 illustrates that people still have strongly believes that arranged marriage is strongly blessed by both parents from each side compared to the other factors listed (M=3.10). Our study also shows that many people generally believe that arranged marriage can maintain wealth and inheritance from both sides of the family (M=2.61). All in all, most respondents agree with all the items listed above (M=2.51). According to Yaried (2013), arranged marriage is very common in royal and aristocratic families’ around the world. However, the researchers have shown that it is also acceptable among the commoners as well.
Table 1: Believes in arranged marriage
Factors Mean
I believe that arranged marriage is strongly blessed by both parents from each side.
3.10 I believe that arranged marriage can maintain wealth and inheritance from both
sides of the family.
2.61 I believe that arranged marriage is to ensure safety of both families. 2.57 I believe that arranged marriage can maintain the family tradition. 2.51 I believe that arranged marriage is good for couples. 2.46 I believe that arranged marriage leads to long lasting relationship. 2.41 I believe that arranged marriage couple will feel comfortable because they know
each other very well.
2.23 I believe that arranged marriage can prevent hereditary illnesses among family
members (such as diabetes, heart disease and more)
2.18
Overall Mean 2.51
SECTION C Owns a house Renting
University college or residence
187 66 36
17.8%
12.9%
25.6%
Family Factor
Table 2 shows the result of our research regarding the factors that affects the decision of accepting the decision of an arranged marriage, in which most respondents had agreed with the opinion that in arranged marriage both families know each other’s backgrounds (M=3.02). The second opinion that got the most respondents’ agreement is that both families know each other’s health background (M=2.61). In general, most respondents agree that family affects the decision of arranged marriage (M=2.54). Research done by Ayres (2018) said that arranged marriage can also create harmony within both families. Our research has also shown that families can live in harmony due to both families know each other’s backgrounds.
Table 2: Family Factor
Factor (Family) Mean
I believe that in arranged marriage both families know each other’s backgrounds.
3.02 I believe that both families know each other’s health background. 2.61 I believe that in arranged marriage both families know each other’s behaviour
and attitude.
2.52 I believe that the couple’s safety and well-being are secured. 2.51 I believe that the couple will know more about each other and be cooperative. 2.44 I believe that in arranged marriage arguments between the couple can be
avoided because both families are close.
2.38 I believe that the couple knows each other’s flaws and insecurities. 2.28
Overall Mean 2.54
Wealth Factor
The information stated on Table 3 showcases the result of a set of questions asked to respondents with different background regarding the wealth factor affecting the decision of arranged marriage. Most respondents agree that arranged marriage can expand the families’
business (M=2.83). The next opinion that most respondents agree with is that arranged marriage can keep families’ business running (M=2.70). In overall, respondents agree with this factor (M=2.56). This is supported by a research done by Smock (2018), which had stated that getting married increases wealth and income.
Table 3: Wealth Factor
Factor (Wealth) Mean
I believe that arranged marriage can expand the families’ business. 2.83 I believe that arranged marriage can keep families’ businesses running. 2.70 I believe that arranged marriage can maintain the level and the stability of
the families’ wealth
2.61 I believe that arranged marriage couples can use the families’ wealth on
investments for the benefits of the family.
2.60 I believe that arranged marriage can ensure their children’s education in the
future using their families’ wealth.
2.56 I believe that arranged marriage can secure the couple’s financial in the
future.
2.49 I believe that arranged marriage ensures the families’ wealth remains safe
and untouched.
2.39
I believe that in arranged marriage there won’t be any wealth theft in the family
2.30
Overall Mean 2.56
Health Factor.
Table 4 discloses data and information regarding the health factor in accepting the decision of arranged marriage. Respondents mainly agreed that arranged marriage can prevent couples from getting STD (Sexually Transmitted Diseases) (M=2.41). Following closely behind the most agreed opinion on health factors in arranged marriage is the opinion that arranged marriage can prevent one from getting harmful hereditary diseases (M=2.34). The respondents generally disagree with health as one of the factors that affect the decision of arranged marriage (M=2.25). The result is the opposite of a research done by Shmerling (2016) where he stated that married people enjoy better health than single people.
Table 4: Health Factor
Factor (Health) Mean
I believe that arranged marriage can prevent couples from getting STD (Sexual Transmitted Disease) (such as HIV, Aids, Syphilis)
2.41 I believe that arranged marriage can prevent one from getting harmful
hereditary diseases.
2.34 I believe that arranged marriage can help couples to have a lower risk for certain
type of heart disease.
2.24 I believe that arranged marriage can ensure a good mental and emotional health. 2.23 I believe that arranged marriage can prevent a stressful married life for couples. 2.19 I believe that arranged marriage can prevent couples from having a problematic
child.
2.18 I believe that arranged marriage can help avoid mental illnesses. 2.15
Overall Mean 2.25
CONCLUSION
Based on the research, the researchers have found that most of the respondents accept arranged marriage with the mean of (M=2.51)
FACTORS OVERALL MEANS
Wealth 2.56
Family 2.54
Health 2.25
The highest factor in mean that we found in arranged marriage questionnaire is the wealth factor with the mean of (M=2.56). The second highest factor in mean in arranged marriage questionnaire is family factor with the mean of (M=2.54) while the lowest factor in mean is health factor with the mean of (M=2.25).
This shows that the respondents agree that wealth is the main factor of arranged marriage. This research is supported by a research done by Smock (2018) which stated that getting married increases wealth and income. In conclusion, the research shows that most of the society accept arranged marriage because of wealth.
REFERENCES
Arranged Marriages in Today’s World. (2017). Retrieved from, https://www.everydayhealth.com/emotional-health/arranged-marriages-todays-world/
Ayres, C. (2018). 18 Arranged Marriage Pros and Cons. Retrieved from,
Gaille., B. (2017). 27 Shocking Arranged Marriages Statistics. Retrieved from, https://brandongaille.com/25-shocking-arranged-marriages-statistics/.
Ghimire D. J. (2006). Marital Processes, Arranged Marriage, and Contraception to Limit Fertility. Retrieved fromhttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3786027/
https://connectusfund.org/18-arranged-marriage-pros-and-cons
https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/the-health-advantages-of-marriage 2016113010667 Kearney, S. L. (2018). Over 50% of World Marriages are Arranged says New Statistics.
Retrieved from, https://www.desiblitz.com/content/world-marriages-arranged- statistics
Landes, L. (2018). Does Getting Married Increase Wealth and Income? Retrieved from, https://www.consumerismcommentary.com/marriage-increase-wealth/
Shmerling, M. H. (2016). The Health Advantages of Marriage. Retrieved from,
Yaried, Y. (2013). Arranged Marriages. Retrieved from, http://www.shabait.com/about- eritrea/art-a-sport/12760-arranged-marriages-
