Using Biodata To Find a Spouse

I’m fascinated by the way different cultures approach dating and marriage. Traditions like arranged marriages used to sound crazy to me, but as I mature, I’ve developed a more open mind. I’ve realized that just because we believe we know best here in the West, that doesn’t mean that we actually do know best.  Where did we get that anyway?  That belief that our way of doing things is superior?  In the case of dating, it’s sure not backed up by measurable statistics like divorce rates.

Today I found something about using biodata to find a potential mate.  Biodata is essentially a resume that focuses a good deal on who you came from, as well as were you are now.  Who are your people?  Do your people fit with my people?  Do our bloodlines go together?  Information is gathered and then posted on a matrimonial website.  

Part resume, part personal ad, and part family tree, biodata can cut through the time-consuming process of finding a spouse by turning it into something akin to a job interview: What are his qualifications? Is she a good match? What is his income potential?

Used primarily by South Asians in arranged marriages, biodata emphasizes compatibility, education, and family history, including caste, more than romance. There are also physical factors to be considered, such as complexion and, occasionally, blood type.

Even among assimilating South Asian Americans like Thaker, the exchange of biodata is popular. In fact, some believe that the deeply rooted tradition is on the rise in part because of the rapid pace of modern life and the increasing popularity of matrimonial websites.

 

What do you think of the idea of using biodata to find a spouse?  Have you heard of this before?  Do you think it has any merit for people in the West?