Socioeconomic benefits and limited parent-offspring disagreement in arranged marriages in Nepal.

ABSTRACT: Mate preferences probably evolved to increase fitness; however, studies using arranged and non-arranged marriage as proxies for limited and free mate choice (respectively) do not find any reproductive differences. We explore why arranged and non-arranged marriages are an imperfect proxy for limited and free-choice matings and what fitness effects different marriage types could produce. Data from focus group discussions with men and women in Nepal show that there are three spouse choice categories with differing levels of parental influence over mate choice, reinforcing that arranged and non-arranged are not dichotomous. Discussions also show that parents and offspring, especially sons, may be more aligned in in-law/mate preferences than expected, demonstrating the need to establish clear d

SUBMITTER: Agey E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10426041 | biostudies-literature | 2023

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature