Final answer:
Factors influencing marriage decisions include cultural expectations, religious values, socio-economic status, and personal preferences. Different societies have unique norms such as endogamy and exogamy rules governing marriage. The traditional view of marriage is also challenged by various laws and societal structures that may favor the institution.
Step-by-step explanation:
The factors important to whom we can marry vary across different cultures and societies. Cultural expectations, religious beliefs, and socio-economic factors all play significant roles in marriage decisions. For instance, Asian individuals are most likely to marry, influenced by cultural norms, while African Americans have lower marriage rates, with reasons possibly tied to socio-economic challenges and historical context. People who place high value on religion are generally more likely to be married than those who do not, although this is not the case for all demographic groups, such as Black women, where religion does not significantly impact marital status. Additionally, laws and societal structures often favor marriage, implying an encouragement of the institution.
Moreover, personal preferences also influence who we choose as partners based on proximity, similarity, mutual attraction, and negotiations between families in arranged marriages. Marriages can be structured differently, such as monogamy in many Western cultures or polygamy in others, often related to the subsistence strategy of the culture. It is important to recognize that the expectations and rules around marriage can also include endogamy and exogamy rules, which dictate the socially acceptable boundaries within which individuals can choose their spouses.