Chapter 07 Paper: Who Marries Whom? Number of Points: 40 Number of Pages: 4 Imagine you are from a culture where arranged marriage is the norm. Marriage is not a personal choice. Family plays a vital role in an individual's marriage. In other words, marriage is about two families, not two people. Your family wants you to write an online matrimonial advertisement for a website called marriage (shaadi).com}. A wedding is once in a lifetime ritual in this culture. Divorce or remarriage is not the norm. Hence, arranging a marriage is an important task. I know that most of you would find this assignment strange and uncomfortable. My advice to you is to come out of your comfort zone and have fun with this assignment. Please do not be shy. After all, this is one of the most important rites of passage of your life. Slight exaggeration or fabrication in highlighting your extraordinary qualities and features is "perfectly okay" and acceptable. There are many cultures in the world where arranged marriage is the norm, for example, India. By the way, arranged marriage does not mean forced marriage. Individuals do have the freedom to reject a prospective bride or groom. There are three parts to this paper: Part I: You will describe the characteristics you think will make you a desirable candidate in the marriage market, such as sex/gender, race, ethnicity, religion, class, education, looks, height, weight, personality, values, hobbies, skills, etc. Do state the qualities you have that would make you a perfect life partner. (One page) Part II: You will describe the characteristics you want in your wife/husband/significant other, such as sex/gender, race, ethnicity, religion, class, education, looks, height, weight, personality, values, hobbies, skills, etc. Do state the qualities you would like in a perfect life partner. (One page) Part III: Write your reflection/reaction after experiencing a tradition from another culture. Did you have fun? Or did you find this activity humiliating and demeaning? Do you feel that this arrangement of marriage would work for you? Discuss how has the process by which young adults find intimate partners changed in recent years in your culture. Why do people still marry? Is marriage truly the Capstone experience? Is marriage good for people? Are marriages more stable due to increased cohabitation in the American family system? Please discuss whatever ideas, thoughts, and feelings emerged because of this assignment. In addition, do relate this experience to the course materials (chapter 7). Last but not least: please follow the instructions/guidelines; think out of the box; think critically, make sure the paper flows, and enjoy the activity! (Two pages) These are some examples from an Indian newspaper. Please do not be brief as in the examples below. They are short because of the cost factor. Your advertisements should be detailed and in-depth. Once again, these advertisements are brief because every word costs money: SUNDAY matrimonials for the better half of your life Bangalore PROF. wkng Chennai Settled Girl, 5'5",Fair, Veg for Saraswat Boy, 29/ 5'8" Fair & Handsome BE, M.S(USA) MNC. oswaloil@ gmail.com Ph: 098410 20282. FAIR prof qlfd non Kashyap non Norgon non Manglik go- od Kayastha slim girl above 5'1" for BE (1st cls) USA empl- oyed 30/5'5".early marriage. Email Ph:09748072597/033-25709680. :sgou.79@gmail.com SM 4 Clean Shaven H'some Boy 28/5'8" Sikh Family well stld Business in Mum. From B'ful slim Edu. Punjabi girl. Contact: 9819420789 or Email: match4we@gmail.com HUM TUM Equity Man's 27, MBA female, 5'5", working in MNC, looking for a 28-32 yr old well qualified male willing to live in a nuclear family and relocate. Wants no interference from in-laws in career as well as family related decisions. Interested please write in to frend 1985@indiatimes.co m GROOMS Smart, intelligent female, 30, looking for suitable match, salary in 7 figures. He should be fond of travelling and eating out. Should be living in a joint family who are willing to share the responsibility for child- TIMES SM for 29 Brahmin, slim 5ft6in, SRCC, IIM MBA, finance exec in Mum, father (late) armed forces doctor, mother professor. Seeking smart, slim, working MBA/PG girl, liberal family pref. Del/Mum/Blr. Cont 09958447716, sneh.chatterjee@gmail.com M4 S.Del fmly 4 fair h'sm NM Goel B.com MBA 9.2.78,12:07 pm Del 173/82kg MNC Hydbd 10Lpa father Dr. sister B.Tech IITD Photo Must # 9811419822 Email: sljain49@yahoo.com SMS imore 1180649 to 5667755 m rearing. Interested please write into your_angel@indiatimes.com Attractive 25 yr old well settled female, teacher, 5'8", earning a 6 figure salary is looking for a match not above 30 yrs, who respects her space and is willing to share the household work and has never been married before. Interested please write into sweet_1980@indiatimes.co September 26, 2010 Fun-loving, 26, 5'4" wants a good-looking, 28 yr old, business class Punjabi boy for marriage. He should come WANTED JUST Wanted Good Looking, educated, homely Girl aged above 32 yrs from respectable business family for a good looking North Indian/Agarwal Boy / Graduate / Issueless/ Innocent Divorcee / MARRIED Dec. 67/54 Well settled in Family Business at Chennai. с E-mail BioData & Recent Photo (Compulsory) to: from a cultured family and should not be a mamas boy. Family should not place any restriction on dressing. Interested please contact mail2us@indiatimes.com Beautiful female, 29, musician, is looking for a 22- 30 yr old male. Should be working in some field of art photography, theatre, painting etc. There should be no pressure from family for child-bearing and freedom to stay with her own parents for long periods of time when required. Interested please ontact love_all1@indiatimes.com