Dating...With Family

For men and women from traditional Indian families, it is still likely that mom and dad—and aunties and grandmothers—will have a say in the choice of a spouse. Even independent young people living in the U.S. still feel the heavy obligation of family in choosing a life partner.

Still, it’s hard for parents to find that perfect match, and many are turning to online dating sites to help their children find romance. Of course, traditional dating sites aren’t going to have a bounty of men and women seeking arranged marriage, so sites like Shaadi.com (shaadi means wedding in Hindi) and BharatMatrimony.com cut right to the chase.

Moms and dads post profiles on behalf of their child and then sort through profiles until they find an appropriate individual. And what do the intended brides and grooms think? While technology like cell phones and email have made it easier to date, many say that they don’t mind the help of family in finding a match. [CNN]