by Ruby Patel
This post was inspired by a fellow student’s project on internet relationships. Now it is evident that the internet is a major tool in bringing people together. But what if the internet became more than just a way to meet people or even dates. In my culture, the internet is a major factors in finding a spouse. This is not similar to an online mail-order bride service but rather a group of websites that display peoples profiles. The basic principle behind these websites is that a person displays several aspects of themselves such as age, career, family background, residence, height, and interests and them and their family can determine other eligible spouses that would be compatible both personality wise and family wise. One of these websites is shadi.com and it has become a very important tool in arranged marriages.
Can you imagine having your family or friends scope out a significant other for you solely based on information posted on an internet profile? What was your first reaction to these websited? Do you think culturally this is an example of how the internet is shaping person to person interaction?
3 Comments
December 15, 2008 at 1:06 pm
The fact that the Internet is being used for arranging marriages shows just how much dependent people are on the Internet. It also shows how segmented society has become. From what I know of arranged marriages, their purpose and intent is to build a stronger and more cohesive family unit. They are usually done between families who have had a strong and long-lasting relationship or as a source of exchange (involving dowry, brideprice, groomprice etc.).
Considering these factors, I do not necessarily think that making arranged marriages solely on websites is the original cultural ideal, but it points to the fact that life has become less family-oriented and more individualistic in much of the world. This probably has less to do with the Internet in and of itself, and more to do with the fact that a lot of cultures that practice arranged marriages are increasing moving from a more sedentary, pastoralist/agricultural way of life to a more segmented, industrial way of life. This is not to say that traditional family values are necessarily being lost, but they are being changed. If the way of life is changing, perhaps the concept of arranged marriage should change as well?
December 15, 2008 at 3:39 pm
Internet dating has definitely taken off under the web 2.0 infrastructure. Internet dating has become one of many examples that our society is slowly moving toward a world where everything will be done via the internet. I agree with ezekilov that “The fact that the Internet is being used for arranging marriages shows just how much dependent people are on the Internet. ” The culture influence of online dating exist, however it is not distinctive to any one culture but to the developing idea of global culture.
December 16, 2008 at 5:10 pm
I believe that the Internet has crossed all different aspects of life, including cultural and societal boundaries. I also agree with ezekilov that “traditional values are not necessarily being lost, but they are changing.” Our society as a whole is changing, as we are being influenced in this technology driven world. Even what seemed to be firmly “sedentary” practices such as arranged marriages are not being influenced by technology and the Internet. It seems as if these cultures that do practice arranged marriages are less willing to change their tradtional practices but would rather keep their traditional practices but uses foreign technological influences around it.