Modern Trends, Youth Choices, and the Silenced Voices of Women in Kinship and Marriage: A Socio-Cultural Analysis

Abstract

This study explores how kinship obligations, cultural traditions, and gender norms shape marriage practices and family life. Data collected through a semi-structured interview guide and focus group discussion, the findings reveal the prolonged traditional system of patriarchal society, where women’s voices are often minimized, and decisions are heavily influenced by family authority, cultural expectations, and distorted interpretations of religion. Women share their experiences of navigating limitations on their movement, finances, and choices, frequently encountering verbal or physical control when they challenge these constraints.  Younger generations are looking to combine tradition with modern values, wanting marriages that honor family respect while also embracing love, understanding, and personal choice.  The study reveals an increasing conflict between long-standing family-centered practices and the changing ideas of equality and independence in marriage. It suggests that although culture and religion hold significant influence, there is a noticeable call for marital relationships that are more balanced, respectful, and equitable.