In a cross-sectional analysis of survey data from rural Maharashtra, India, researchers found that measures of women’s marital choice in partner selection and timing of marriage demonstrate partial construct validity as indicators of marital agency. The study, published in Contraception and Reproductive Medicine, utilized baseline data from the Counseling Husbands and Wives to Achieve Reproductive Health and Marital Equity (CHARM2) trial to evaluate these novel metrics. The primary objective was to determine whether these specific aspects of decision-making could serve as reliable proxies for women’s agency at the time of marriage, particularly in the context of global efforts to monitor the elimination of child, early, and forced marriage. The findings suggest that while these measures correlate with traditional gender-normative practices, they do not necessarily predict later autonomy or safety within the marriage itself.
The research team, led by Anita Raj and colleagues, analyzed data from 1,192 married women aged 18 to 30 who were part of the CHARM2 trial in rural Pune District. The study focused on women who had been married only once, ensuring that variables related to their first and current marriages could be included without confusion. Recruitment took place between September 2018 and June 2019, with trained staff collecting data in private settings using the local language, Marathi. The sample was predominantly Hindu, with 92.4% identifying as such, and 31.5% belonging to scheduled tribes, scheduled castes, or other backward classes. The mean age of the participants was 23.9 years, and the majority had completed secondary or higher secondary education, with nearly one-third having obtained tertiary education.
The core of the study involved two novel survey items designed to assess marital agency at the point of entry into marriage. The first item asked women who was the primary person to decide whom they married, while the second asked who was the primary person to decide when they should get married. Responses were dichotomized to indicate whether the woman herself or another individual, such as a parent, sibling, or community leader, was the primary and final decision-maker. This approach aimed to capture the nuance of marital choice beyond simple binary questions about forced marriage, which the authors noted may not effectively capture the subtle pressures and social norms influencing women’s decisions in low- and middle-income countries.
The results revealed that a significant majority of women did not have primary control over their marital decisions. Only 15.5% of the women reported being the primary decision-maker regarding the selection of their marriage partner, while just 9.4% reported being the primary decision-maker regarding the timing of their marriage. In most cases, other family members served as the primary decision-makers. For partner selection, uncles were the most commonly cited primary decision-makers at 29.8%, followed by fathers at 20.8%. For the timing of marriage, fathers were the dominant decision-makers, accounting for 66.0% of cases. These findings highlight the continued prevalence of family control over women’s marital lives in this rural context, despite legal frameworks in India that uphold the right to choose one’s life partner.
To validate these marital choice measures, the researchers examined their associations with other traditionally gender-normative practices related to marriage, including child marriage, purdah, and dowry. The analysis showed strong correlations between the two marital choice variables themselves, with a correlation coefficient of r = 0.8. Both measures were also highly correlated with reports of arranged marriage, with partner choice showing a correlation of r = 0.9 and marriage timing showing a correlation of r = 0.6. The measures were inversely correlated with child marriage, with both showing a correlation of r = -0.3, and positively correlated with not receiving a dowry, with a correlation of r = 0.4. Additionally, both choice variables were negatively correlated with the practice of purdah, with marriage timing showing a stronger association (r = -0.3) than partner choice (r = -0.1).
The study also investigated whether these indicators of agency at marriage were associated with indicators of current agency within the marriage, specifically intimate partner violence (IPV), marital quality, and contraceptive self-efficacy. The researchers used multivariate regression models adjusted for sociodemographic factors such as education, caste, religion, and age at marriage. Contrary to their hypotheses, the analysis found no significant associations between marital choice in partner selection or timing of marriage and these current marital agency indicators. This lack of association suggests that agency exercised at the time of marriage may not translate into sustained autonomy, safety, or decision-making power later in the marriage, challenging the assumption that early choice guarantees long-term empowerment.
The authors discussed several theoretical perspectives to explain these largely null findings linking marital agency at marriage with later outcomes. Gender and kinship theories suggest that marital entry occurs within patriarchal family systems where authority often shifts from the natal household to the marital household, potentially constraining women’s bargaining power regardless of their initial choice. Even when women exercise agency in partner selection or timing, subsequent co-residence with in-laws, economic dependence, and entrenched gender norms may limit the translation of early agency into later autonomy. Women’s empowerment frameworks further suggest that agency is dynamic and contingent, shaped by post-marital factors such as fertility, economic contribution, and social support, rather than being fixed at the time of marriage.
The study acknowledges several limitations that must be considered when interpreting the results. All measures relied on self-report, which is subject to recall bias and social desirability. The cross-sectional design of the analysis precludes the assessment of causality, meaning that the observed associations cannot be interpreted as causal effects. The study population had relatively higher education and income levels than other rural populations in India, which may limit the generalizability of the findings, especially as these characteristics may be protective for women’s agency broadly and in marriage specifically. Additionally, the single item on forced marriage used in the study was likely insufficient to capture the full construct of forced marriage, including emotional blackmail and threats.
Despite these limitations, the study contributes to gender measurement science by providing more nuanced and multi-faceted measures of marital decision-making. The authors argue that these indicators of marital agency offer more variation in response than simple forced marriage measures and can serve as important proxies for global goals to eliminate early, child, and forced marriage. However, they emphasize that these measures cannot be viewed as synonymous with forced marriage and are limited to choice of mate and timing, excluding other aspects of marital agency such as negotiation and refusal. Further research is needed to refine these measures and examine post-marital pathways shaping women’s autonomy across diverse settings.
The findings have significant policy implications for programs and policies aimed at fostering meaningful change in women’s marital agency. The study demonstrates that in this context, marriages remain predominantly arranged, with male family members serving as primary decision-makers. To address this disparity, policies must target both women and girls directly, as well as influential male family members. Beyond protecting women’s rights in marital choice, policies should strategically encourage normative shifts within families, particularly among male members, to actively endorse and celebrate women’s choices. Such efforts can help advance global development goals related to gender equality by shifting focus from simply reducing discrimination and violence to targets focused on women’s empowerment and lived agency.
The study underscores the importance of viewing marital agency as a temporally situated and socially mediated construct rather than a stable predictor of later marital outcomes. The partial construct validity of the marital choice measures indicates that they capture key dimensions of agency at marital entry but do not fully represent the complex and dynamic nature of women’s empowerment. The strong correlations with traditional gender-normative practices such as child marriage, dowry, and purdah highlight the interlinked nature of gendered constraints surrounding marital entry in rural India. These findings provide valuable insights for researchers and policymakers seeking to understand and address the barriers to women’s agency in marriage.
Future research should focus on refining the measurement of marital agency to include a broader range of decision-making aspects, such as negotiation and refusal. Longitudinal studies are needed to examine the post-marital pathways that shape women’s autonomy and to assess the utility of marital agency indicators for monitoring progress toward global gender equality goals. The study also highlights the need for more robust measures of forced marriage that include the full range of force, coercion, and blackmail. By addressing these gaps, researchers can develop more comprehensive tools to evaluate and improve women’s marital agency in diverse cultural and socioeconomic contexts.
Subject of Research: Validation of marital choice measures as indicators of women's agency in rural India
Article Title: Measuring marital choice as an indicator of women’s marital agency in rural India
Article References: Raj, A., Gebrehanna, H., Johns, N. E., Rao, N., Ghule, M., Battala, M., Begum, S., & Clark, C. J. (2026). Measuring marital choice as an indicator of women’s marital agency in rural India. Contraception and Reproductive Medicine, 11(1), Article 21. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40834-026-00437-z
Image Credits: AI Generated
DOI: 10.1186/s40834-026-00437-z
Keywords: marital agency, rural India, CHARM2 trial, marital choice, partner selection, marriage timing, construct validity, gender norms, child marriage, dowry, purdah, intimate partner violence, contraceptive self-efficacy, cross-sectional analysis, women's empowerment
News Source: Ophelia Keating. (November 14, 2026). Marital Choice Measures Show Partial Validity in Rural India. Scienmag.
