This -'More than 90% of Indian marriages are still arranged. Less than 5% result in divorce' is nonsense.
Most of India lives in villages & small towns, not in metros. Divorce is still a TABOO in our society.
As I live in a metro, I will share what I've seen around me. None of these are hypothetical.
My maid servant is the only earning member in the family with 2 kids & a husband to support. The husband does not work, is a drunkard & also beats up & abuses her regularly. Occasionally, she has to get him released from jail. One might dismiss this as being common in the slums/lower classes.
My friend's parents - The husband is an high ranking official at FDA. The wife runs her own beauty parlour in a posh locality. Same story again. Drinks & domestic violence. They both had extra-marital affairs & their kids know this. However, divorce is never an option.
Another friend's sister - Hers was an arranged marriage. They now have a son.
Her husband rarely takes her out. He says 'I don't like to spend time with you'.
There is no violence here. But no companionship, no respect either.
Industrialist father used to beat up mother regularly. Finally he stood up for his mother when he was old enough to defend her. But today, he does the same thing to his wife in front of their two daughters. His wife is quite wealthy & she is aware of his extra-marital affairs. But divorce?
After twenty years of marriage, one of my relatives is 'trying to adjust' in this family.
She advises me to get hitched to someone who treats me well.
From my native, a girl married an NRI. After 2 years, he drops her back in her village, saying 'I don't want her.' Now she has to raise the kid alone & live with the stigma that her husband left her.
I am not sympathizing with women here.
The point of writing this is 'not getting divorced does not mean the marriage is successful'
Can't understand the Indian obsession with marriage either.
Getting married due to societal pressure, men & women stay in unhappy marriages due to the stigma attached to divorce, the society, for the kids etc.etc......... & many take the easy alternative-- extra-marital affairs...