'Arranged' Marriages Survey - Ctrl.Alt.Shift

For this ever-so controversial issue of 'arranged marriages' - I recruited the skills and charm of fellow Ctrl.Alt.Shift reporter Emily Jane Brown (jetting in all the way from Southampton), who was just as curious as me to see what our generation thought about this complex issue. Of course we had to keep in mind, what might not run so smoothly in our upbringing, could be perfectly tolerated, perhaps even welcomed in other more traditional societies... But would our public be so objective? Here's the report:

Vox Pops: Till Death Do Us Part?
Being tied up, drugged and carted off to a foreign country to marry someone just because of your religion is surely a scenario most of us can't begin to imagine. But for some women across the globe, this daunting predicament is never a step too far from reality - on August 3rd 2008 was flown to Bangladesh and held prisoner for five months by her own parents while they planned her forced marriage to a Muslim man.



Ctrl.Alt.Shift wanted to know how our youth felt about the subject and whether they felt that traditional values and strict religious regimes could still play a part in our modern day society.

In 2007 the government brought in the Forced Marriages Act to protect victims from being trapped into marriage - with that in mind, we also asked our interviewees if they felt as though enough is being done in the UK and abroad to help those forced into marriage, to spread awareness and to give people their chance to speak up and be free.

Abdul, 22:
"I disagree with forced marriage as I think it has to be given consent by both parties and not decided by anyone else, especially not the parents of the bride and groom - though if my parents forced me to marry Beyonce Knowles I guess I wouldn't mind. Still, I don't think this issue has anything to do with religion - it's more of a cultural problem. Parents are safeguarding traditional honour and respect for religion but harming their own children in the process. I think the government need to get to the heart of the problem because just imposing the Forced Marriages Act won't solve anything. People need to be educated and given a better understanding of the help around them, especially if they feel that they are a victim."

Oli, 23:
"Forced marriages are wrong - people shouldn't be made to do something they don’t want to do. I think strict religious regimes can have a place in society today, but it depends on the person and if it is in their favour, but it’s just not for me. Despite the Forced Marriage Act I don't think enough is being done by the UK government to expose this subject. It's very hard to comment on other places such as Bangladesh as I don't know enough about it, but of course it would be nice if there was more help available to those being forced into marriage; somewhere to go, like an agency."

Read the full set of answers here