The Role of Education and Career in Shaping Preferences for Love and Arranged Marriages in Gujarat's Urban Society

Abstract

This study examines the role of education and career in shaping individual preferences for love and arranged marriages in Gujarat’s urban societies. With rapid urbanization, increased educational attainment, and evolving career aspirations, traditional marriage patterns are undergoing significant shifts in metropolitan cities like Ahmedabad, Surat, and Vadodara. Drawing on interviews and survey data from young adults, this research explores how educational achievements and professional ambitions influence personal autonomy, partner selection, and marital decision-making processes. The findings reveal that higher education and career success often empower individuals to challenge conventional norms, resulting in a growing preference for love marriages. However, the study also highlights how arranged marriages continue to adapt within modern contexts, with families considering factors such as career compatibility and individual agency in the matchmaking process. By analyzing these changes, the research contributes to a deeper understanding of how education and career shape the evolving landscape of marital preferences in Gujarat’s urban areas, while also reflecting broader socio-cultural transformations in contemporary Indian society.