I can not think of a single good reason why that is the way it should be. I also know for the a fact that this practice is not worldwide either. There are places in the world were the families arrange the marriage to the perceived benefit of the two families involved. Those arrangements can be instigated by either the man or woman’s family depending on the customs and beliefs of the parties involved. But in the United States it certainly has been the custom for the plunge into the legal and societal institution we call marriage to be initiated by the male. This as many of our customs, laws, and legal precedents were inherited from our former ties with Great Brittan. The British people inherited many of their customs from their former ties with the Roman Empire and thus linking them to classical western civilization which was based on a paternalistic hierarchy which dominated religion and property rights. Both being highly enmeshed in the fabric of human relationships, especially marriage as we know them in the U.S..

Certainly there are some who might feel that a women making her desires, wishes, and plans known would be highly inappropriate, and perhaps give some of the more traditional womenfolk “the vapors”, and make the traditional menfolk “fightin’ mad”, but they might as well get over it. If you want to cling to traditional practices, feel free to. But don’t be casting dispersions if one of your sisters has the strength and conviction to make her wishes know to a prospective spouse. As matter of fact I am sure the idea of marriage in a relationship as often originates with the female as the male. If the lass possesses a high degree of feminine wile and is manipulative in nature she may even be able to play it in such a way that the man thinks it was his idea to propose. Maybe she does propose and for appearances sake the two agree to tell all concerned that it was his idea, or they take the honest route and just admit that she swept him of his feet.

Perhaps the male initiated proposal was the way it had to be back when property rights were the exclusive domain of men and women and children were chattel. Since we have moved beyond that model, too much for some and no where near enough for others, I see no reason that it should be the mans sole prerogative and duty to propose such a life altering proposition. The divorce rate in the U.S. might be the best argument against this practice. But that doesn’t make women any less culpable for marital disasters since they agree to said proposals. Who proposes to whom I would imagine makes little difference in the probability of a satisfactory outcome.

Should we revisit that arranged marriage structure? Hmmmm.

So people should do what is right for them, and never mind what others think they should do in this matter. That’s why it is called a personal life.