In the past women were forced to marry whoever wanted to claim her, be it an old man of wealth, or whoever her father wanted to "give her away to".
I had a great uncle from PR who married my great aunt. My aunt died in her late 60's. He, a 70 year old man, remarried right after. He traded a peer of his, his old farm truck to marry his 34 year old mentally challanged daughter. This was in like, 2003. Blew my mind. She was nice, but didnt want to be there.
Women have faught for our rights. In the days of old, we were sold like livestock to the highest bidder. There wasnt choice.