In the US, it would be most unusual for anyone to admit to marrying somebody for any reason other

[raccoon]

than loving him/her.

I wonder if it's the same in any other countries?

[Echo In Light]

1. Love has many masks and counterfeits

[ZeitgeistObserver]

2. Arranged marriages are common elsewhere.

[raccoon]

3. Know of anywhere where this is still being done? nt

[Lance_Boyle]

4. India, for one.

Plenty of places around the world where arranged marriage is still the rule.

[Arugula Latte]

5. India, for starters.

on edit: I guess Lance & I had the same thought.

[ZeitgeistObserver]

6. India, China, ME, Greece, all over.

NA as well.

[HipChick]

7. Plenty of goldiggers marry for all right reasons...

Trophy wife..

[Echo In Light]

8. Many relationships are grounded in the dominant cultural directives

... I really don't find that, with its surface appearance of 'choice,' as being all that different from arranged marriages ...at least in terms of it seeming bizarre to those whose relationships/marriages are based in love/companionship alone i.e. no corporate cultural expectations/criteria/requirements

Which is to say I suspect many people, be they cognizant of it or not, strive for a 'trophy' spouse to some extent since what amplifies and fuels that impetus is manifest in how the social status, and, really, the intrinsic worth of human life is determined by one's earning/spending/rank.

In America though, one needn't be wealthy to attract a spouse on these terms alone provided the person is considered normal, which translates into their wanting to mindlessly abide the corp culture's tenets and value$

[raccoon]

9. I agree, I just think most people wouldn't admit it except to their closest friends/relatives. nt