Different Aspects of Educational Influence and Women's Agency in the Marriage Process in an Arranged Marriage Society

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Shrestha, Shradha
- Affiliation: College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Sociology

Abstract

This paper examines different aspects of educational influence at the neighborhood, parental, and individual levels that play a part in influencing the level of involvement women have in when they marry and selecting a spouse in a predominantly arranged marriage setting. Specifically, I use theory about how availability and exposure to schools at a young age, independent from participation in them, shapes marriage behavior, theory about how education of fathers in the household influences their treatment of and behavior towards their children, and finally, I will draw on theories about how individuals' education levels affect their views on marriage and participation in choosing a spouse. The data come from the Chitwan Valley Family Study (CVFS) survey in Nepal. Results suggest some evidence for what is generally expected, that exposure to education in a variety of ways will delay marriage and increase women's say in who they marry. However, some results run counter to expectations and raise questions about the extent to which highly educated and wealthy families are invested in maintaining customs such as early and arranged marriages.

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