Family & Society

Can a family-arranged marriage include a woman’s choice?

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Answer

Direct answer

Yes. Family involvement and personal choice are not opposites. In the 2017–18 Pakistan DHS, 80.5% of ever-married women aged 15–49 reported having a say in choosing their husband, while family participation remained common in Pakistani marriage processes. The survey does not classify every marriage as arranged or self-chosen, nor does “having a say” measure the degree of influence or freedom from pressure. Arrangement, consultation, and consent must therefore be discussed separately.

Evidence

Sources used

National Survey · 2019

Pakistan Demographic and Health Survey 2017–18

National Institute of Population Studies and The DHS Program

National survey evidence for marriage timing, women, households and health indicators.View source
International Organization · 2021

Pakistan National Human Development Report on Inequality

UNDP Pakistan

Context on inequality of opportunity across groups and regions in Pakistan.View source
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