Fiddler on the Roof

Within Fiddler on the Roof, one tradition that the story focused on was that of arranged marriages. The concept of having marriages arranged for young adults rose out of the social custom that a parent is expected to care for (and make decisions for) a child until that child has left the parent's care (not necessarily just physically, but symbolically via marriage). Another common justification in religious sects (such as that in the play) is that by objectifying relationships and not allowing children to do anything that they please, there is higher conformity to norms of sexual abstinence. I would say that the key problem with this concept is simply that it doesn't fit with today's notion of individual freedom for all- today, we feel that people should be able to make decisions for themselves. I think that that freedom is one of the pillars of a just society so this tradition (while I do not disrespect those who choose to willingly participate in it) is not something that I would wish to have for myself.