LNAT essay on whether Western society should accept arranged marriages
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Course
LNAT
Institution
LNAT
With the help of my LNAT tutor, I have written a high-graded LNAT essay for section B of the exam. Exploring the ethical complexity around arranged marriage.
In a western society arranged marriages should no longer be tolerated. Discuss.
Arranged marriages are marriages that are planned by the families or guardians of those concerned. This is a
common practise amongst many cultures, to assess compatibility and continue certain traditions on.
Everyone no matter where they live should be able to choose how they decide to marry using their
autonomy. Infringing on such, risks western society losing its fundamental principles of freedom for all.
Western society prides itself on fundamental principles such as autonomy, to not tolerate arrange
marriages, infringes on that basic principle. If autonomy, starting at arranged marriages, stops there is no
way to know where stopping free will end. Not tolerating arranged marriages is a massive issue because of
the chain reaction on autonomy that effects everything in society, therefore it must be tolerated despite
some people’s grievances for the welfare of the many, to make sure we obtain the fundamental right of free
will. The chain effect for example-causing loss autonomy in speech, movement, and contraception.
Although, if western society took a paternalistic approach in not tolerating arranged marriages, it could stop
arranged marriages for those who are forced into it by their family members. Therefore, not tolerating it
could stop some unwanted marriages, especially in cases where there have been underage girls,
subsequently protecting their welfare. Arranged marriage has made significant evolution and in most cases
in western society the participants have a choice to marry the person suggested, the arranged marriage only
sets them up. So, tolerating arranged marriages and allowing autonomy to remain, allows people to consent
fully to their future. Whether that be to marry the other participant or not. Not tolerating such could lead to
the underground continuation of arranged marriages where autonomy may be infringed, and participant’s
(especially women) will lose as much ability to consent. However, the amount of autonomy already available
in regard to arranged marriages can be questioned, as the family could be pressurising the participants to go
through with the marriage, they would not be acting in free will anyway. So, not tolerating arranged
marriages would not be taking away any autonomy.
Certain cultures (more so in African and Asian cultures) use arranged marriages as a method to find families
with similar ideals and traditions, to create a family environment were those can be passed down to their
children. This has become more important in western society as people from countries in Africa and Asia are
usually the minority, therefore run the risk of their religious and cultural traditions diminishing, arranged
marriages are an effective and convenient mode to allow all different beliefs and ideals to flourish and
continue. Although, the continuation of cultural beliefs is not reliant on arranged marriages, as the same
affect would occur if the participant had full control over who they have children with. The continuation is
reliant on the education of such by one or both parents to their children, not necessarily through arranged
marriage. The culture around arranged marriages normally include large involvement from family members.
This would allow the participants in the marriage have a lot of emotional and sometimes financial support in
a large life change with many financial implications. As marriage is something most people in western society
go through, it could be seen that arranged marriages are more beneficial as they are more supported,
resulting in an improved quality of life and marriage. However, some family members can be less supporting,
putting more pressure on to a marriage the participant may not want to enter. This could lead to not only
more unhappy marriages but increased domestic violence, as the family may force the participant to marry
for their own financial gain and ignore the possible violent character of the other participant.
In western society arranged marriages should be tolerated since everyone should have autonomy, especially
when removing such for arranged marriages could create a chain effect to other areas of free will being
restricted. Alongside, the cultural aspect of arranged marriages that should be respected and how it allows
for a multitude of cultures and religions to flourish and continue, especially in western society were these
cultures are often the minorities.
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