Rambam, Laws of Marital Relations 3:19

Translation	Original
Even though a father has permission [from the Torah] to betrothe his daughter while she is a minor to anyone that he wants, it is not right for him to do this. Rather, the sages have commanded that a man should not betrothe his daughter while she is a minor. Rather, she must become an adult and say, “To so-and-so I wish to be married.” [AJWS translation]	ואע"פ שיש רשות לאב לקדש בתו כשהיא קטנה וכשהיא נערה לכל מי שירצה אין ראוי לעשות כן אלא מצות חכמים שלא יקדש אדם את בתו כשהיא קטנה עד שתגדיל ותאמר בפלוני אני רוצה.

-Why would a father want to marry off his minor daughter?

-How does the ability to choose a marriage partner impact a woman's status in society?