Understanding Marriage of Convenience

For many people, marriage and romance go hand in hand. Marriage is the ultimate commitment made to the person you're in love with. Yet not every marriage is based solely on love. Sometimes, a marriage occurs for other reasons, and this is known as a marriage of convenience. While some might question whether this is truly a marriage if it's not based on mutual love, there are some instances when this type of arrangement is appropriate.

What Is A Marriage of Convenience?

A marriage of convenience is one that is not based on love. The two people are not involved in a romantic relationship and are instead getting together for other reasons. A well-known example of this type of marriage is when someone gets married for citizenship. While not all marriages of convenience are illegal, this type is, punishable by both a fine and a prison sentence. These marriages might also take place to take advantage of certain financial or legal loopholes.

What Is The History Of This Type Of Marriage?

At one point, marriages of convenience were simply "marriages." The idea of getting married for romantic reasons did not start to gain in popularity until the 18th and 19th centuries. In those days, people would often be married within their socioeconomic class. Political reasons have often played a role in these types of marriages as well. Some countries today, such as India, still practice this sort of marriage.

What Are Some Of The Benefits?

For some people, what started as a marriage based on love eventually turns into a marriage of convenience. At this point, many would choose to get a divorce. But some don't. Divorce can be a long, messy process, and some people choose to forego this and remain married, though they are no longer in love. Only you can decide whether this is the best option for you. If you are content living with your spouse, although there is no romance, then it might be a good choice. Whether you have children is also something else to consider. If you and your spouse can exist in relatively peaceful terms, it might be less disruptive for the children if you stay together. Though it was more prevalent in the past, homosexual men and women might marry a friend of the opposite sex in order to hide their true sexuality.

What Are Some Of The Drawbacks?

The main drawback to this type of marriage is that you will be foregoing the chance of a relationship based on love. While in the short-term this might seem okay, are you still going to feel okay with it 5 or 10 years down the road? If you have children, you might want to consider the kind of example this is setting for them. While on the one hand there are some benefits to staying together for the kids, there are also drawbacks to this as well. If your spouse is not going to be the person you feel passionately about, who shares similar interests as you, you are going to have to find and nurture those relationships with other people.

How Do You Know If This Sort Of Relationship Is Right For You?

Marriage is not something to be taken lightly, so it's important that you carefully consider all your reasons for entering into wedlock for convenience. You will have to be okay without getting your romantic and intimate needs fulfilled by your spouse. To make this sort of union work, many couples must get creative in order to sustain the relationship. This includes taking breaks or entering into a physical relationship with someone else. Clearly, this sort of thing takes some careful negotiating and serious thought on your part before you enter into one of these arrangements.

Most people are taught from an early age that when you grow up, you meet someone, fall in love, and get married. Yet this is not always the case. Sometimes reasons other than romantic love play a role in why someone gets married. Whether this arrangement is right for you depends upon your situation and what you're willing to accept in a marriage.

Source: married.answers.com