Although technology has changed many ways of life for Asian people, the online dating scene in Asia still faces deep seated obstacles. Many young Asians are exploring alternative ways of dating at Asian dating sites, but a big part of Asian culture will not approve of acquaintances made through online dating. To understand why online dating is still taken up cautiously by single Asians (especially southern and southeast Asian cultures), you need to understand some aspects of Asian culture relating to marriage and relationships (we mainly refer to Indian, Pakistani, Sri lanka and Bangladeshi cultures here).
Asian culture revolves around family. It’s the nucleus of the societal setting. A family is held in high regard and as such, this has ripple effects in all other aspects of a person’s life decisions, including courtship, marriage and related social obligations. Elders in a family yield a great deal of influence on those crucial aspects in someone’s’ life, including choosing a life partner.
In the same regard, a man is the centre of the home, with every focus on him. He is supposed to lead the wife and guide the children and both are expected to look up to him. When matchmakers are searching for a potential partner for a girl to marry, they look at a man’s family, his vocation, religion and caste links among others. It is usually a bit harder to find these data at the Asian dating sites.
Typically, an Asian girl is expected to complete school, get a job and get married off in an arranged marriage (though getting a job is not ). She plays no or a less significant role in matters of ‘her heart’. Of course, this is strange to modern western world but that’s Asian culture, and it’s been practised and accepted for generations, even in the age of online dating. Basically, the prevalence of dating is very small and where it exists, it’s of little consequence, because a couple either has to be ‘matched’ by elders or family or trusted third-party or a partner selected and introduced for an arranged marriage.
The practice couldn’t be closer to home than the fact that even a good number of well educated, ‘westernised’ Asians still approve of arranged marriages, and many living abroad will travel back home for an arranged marriage. Many will still shy away from dating websites, even if they are specifically focused at Asians, fearing their new partners will not be approved of by the family.
Religion and culture are almost intertwined. Most Asian cultures are deeply religious (mostly Buddhists, Hindus and sects of Muslims) and Asians have a deep sense of attachment to their faith. Subsequently, this has a huge impact on their dating practices. Almost all Asian cultures and religions find online dating, or any other form of matchmaking outside their cultures extremely repulsive.
Having said that though, the online dating bug hasn’t spared many young singles in much of Asia. There are now specialized Asian dating sites catering to the traditional values of south Asian singles around the world who prefer to connect to persons from their own cultures, without having to go through an arranged union.