Success of love and arranged marriages in working women of Karachi: a comparative study

ABSTRACT

The present study aimed at comparing the fates of Totally Love Marriages with Totally Arranged Marriages in working women residing in Karachi. The success of marriage was determined by the outcome of marriage. A structured interview form was constructed in order to find out the results of the marriages and to collect some biographical information from the individuals. Divorce and Separation were taken as the criteria for unsuccessful marriages and length [individuals who were currently living together and have been happily married for more than five years] of marriages was taken as a criterion for successful marriages. It was assumed that Totally Arranged Marriages will be successful as compared to Totally Love Marriages in working women of Karachi. A total number of 200 married working women either doing office work or serving as nurses, teachers, doctors, lawyers at different sites in Karachi participated in the study. Their age range was from 25 to 40 years and their academic qualification was from intermediate to postgraduate professional degrees. A chi-square test was computed for the statistical analysis of the data. The research findings provide the evidence that Totally Arranged Marriages are successful as compared to Totally Love Marriages in working women of Karachi. The result was significant at p < .05 level