Interracial Marriages
      Interracial marriages are more accepted in today’s society than any other society.  Even though America is more accepting of interracial marriages there are other cultures that do not approve of this.  One culture that is not completely accepting of interracial marriages is India.  Nonetheless, India has a different meaning of interracial marriages.  They call this inter caste marriages.  Inter caste means that there is a of mix caste systems.  A caste system is consisted of two main factors, socieo-economic status, and religion.

The Caste System
        In India a persons caste status is based upon ties of kinship (Seymour, 1999).  In India individuals inherit from their fathers their status within a localized kinship based caste group (Seymour, 1999).  This means that if your father is rich and powerful than you will become rich and powerful if you stay in the caste system.  In addition, if your father is not rich and powerful you will not become rich and powerful.  In India they have a class system which is consisted of five classes: Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, Shudras, and Untouchables.  The Brahmins are considered the highest class and the Untouchables are the lowest class.

Marriage
        In India the family, not the couple, usually decides marriage.  There are many negotiations that go on between the two families like bride price and dowry.  The start of the wedding means that the negotiations are through.  In most cases the couples have rarely met before.  This marriage is commonly not a marriage of choice and love, but to extend kinship for the two families.
         The female has many sacrifices to make when she marries.  She now has to dedicate her life to her husband and children.  She has to put her needs second and her families needs first.  The age females tend to get married is early adolescence (Seymour 1999).  Males tend to be several years older, and more educated than females.  In India a man stated that, “American girls have too much independence.  A girl should marry young, before she has a chance to develop independent ideas” (Seymour 1999).  In India once females are married and have children this is an indication of satisfaction.

Traditions
       Children are brought up to respect their parents.  This is very important for females due to the fact that their parents pick their husbands.   Therefore females are raised to trust and honor their parent’s decision under any circumstance.  Once married, females are expected to move in with their husband’s and their families.  Females and males are both taught that the male would inherit and take over the father’s possessions.  The male will also follow in his father’s footsteps by learning the same trade of his father.

The Transition into Adulthood
       Adolescents in India very rarely get to explore their own interest.  They are rarely allowed to date, unless it is in a public place and they are being viewed.  In addition, it is possible to be married before a first kiss. Their life is predetermined for them when they are born.   Since their spouse is chosen for them at a very early age, by family status and religion.  In India many life decisions are previously made for adolescents.  Adolescents are unable to explore their own ideas.  They are faced with foreclosure identity. This means that they pursue whatever goals their parents want them to pursue.  They do not go after their own goals and expectations.

Changes in India
       Although intercaste marriages are not common in India it is not illegal.  This was granted by the Special Marriage Act of 1872 (Good, 1970).  The Special Marriage Act permits marriage outside caste, if the individual asserted that he had no religion or cast (Good, 1970).  Many people do marry within their own caste because of family expectations.  As long as this law exists, people have the choice of marring outside of their caste system.
         Many changes are happening in India.  The roles and lives of women are being transformed (Seymour 1999).  Girls are now being sent to school because men want more educated wives.  However, arranged marriages, same caste marriages, and dowry are still involved in this culture.  As a result, changes are happening and this can have a major impact on adolescents in India.