in finding and choosing a spouse. There is often a continuum of coercion used to compel a marriage, ranging from outright physical violence to financial pressure to subtle psychological pressure.

Though now widely condemned by international opinion, forced marriages still take place in various cultures across the world, particularly in parts of South Asia and Africa. Some scholars object to use of the term "forced marriage" because it invokes the consensual legitimating language of marriage (such as husband/wife)