Compare and Contrast: I'm Happy with an Arranged Marriage

Comparing and contrasting is the way we separate two ideas. We use it to differentiate them, and weigh their pros and cons to see which side they would rather take. It can be either one, neither one, or both. This especially helps if we are stuck between two things and we don’t know which one to go with.

In Gitangeli Sapra’s “I’m Happy with an Arranged Marriage,” Sapra weighs the pros and cons of an arranged marriage. She provides the reader with some information about arranged marriages, before they can form a judgment themselves. She states that “40% of ‘marriages made for love’ still end in divorce. By contrast, the rate of break-ups of arranged marriages in the Asian community is far lower.” Sapra is arguing that arranged marriages really aren’t that bad, despite the commonly attributed horrors that everybody seems to know. She says that “arranged unions are based on mutual interests and similar levels of education rather physical attraction.” While she argues that arranged marriages can actually be good things, she also addresses the fact that forced marriages still occur, making her argument more credible. However, she still abides by her statement that arranged marriages can be a good thing despite what Westerners may think.

Personally, I agree with Gitangeli Sapra in her argument. I don’t think that arranged marriages are really as bad as we credit them to be. Sure, it’s possible that two people that absolutely hate each other can wind up married. But, arranged marriages still come with a choice. If you meet that person and you decide you don’t like them, you don’t need to marry them, just move on to the next lucky person. Arranged marriages are usually more based on similarities, financial needs, and common interests. It’s like having a friend, except you’re married to them. Everything you might need, they will have. If you feel like having going skydiving and your partner also enjoys skydiving, there’s no question there about whether or not you should go skydiving, because it’s a common interest. In fact, arranged marriages kind of remind me of speed dating or match.com. Really, it’s just finding a person you’re compatible with and making it official, except in arranged marriages, there are a lot of people who love you trying to help you decide if you should marry this person. It’s really a great way to weed people out and make marriages last longer.