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Netflix's Indian Matchmaking further spotlights the need to discuss colourism

Photo credit: Netflix
Photo credit: Netflix

From Digital Spy

Being a 23-year-old South Asian woman, I've grown pretty accustomed to the dating process within our culture. Unlike the stereotypical Western techniques of using Tinder or Bumble, South Asian culture focuses heavily on connections and kismet (destiny). We get introduced to potential 'rishtas' (matches) via our friends and families and after a few dates, we tend to get engaged.

So, when Netflix's latest Original Series Indian Matchmaking came out, I knew I had to binge all eight episodes in one sitting. But boy, did I not expect the chaos that was to come.

The show follows Sima Taparia, a renowned Matchmaker based in Mumbai, who also has clients in the US. 'Aunty Sima', as she is known on the show, meets with her hopeful clients and overhears their (and their families') requirements for a potential life partner. After the meeting, she creates a comprehensive biodata file, which she cross-analyses with those of her other clients to see if any would make a suitable match.

The whole process is somewhat like applying for a life-long job role.

Photo credit: Netflix
Photo credit: Netflix

Related: The Hate U Give's Amandla Stenberg reflects on the responsibility of confronting colourism

As a Pakistani woman who is currently in the process of looking for my very own match, it was refreshing to see Netflix shine a light on the traditional practices of another culture. Many aspects of the show felt strangely familiar, but others made me question the problematic nature of these traditions.

I watched the show with my mum, and it provoked some interesting conversations about my own requirements. I will admit, I have been a little picky in my personal hunt, albeit nowhere near as picky as those on the show. I want someone over 5'9, and to me, that never really seemed like a big deal. My mum on the other hand disagrees – "Why would a tall guy want to date a short girl?" But that's about as specific as I've been regarding physical appearance.

I never really considered skin colour as a present issue.

Although I have overheard extended members of my family occasionally use the term 'fair' as a compliment, I never really thought about it in terms of internalised racism until the recent Black Lives Matter movement. The movement has reopened the dialogue surrounding ingrained racism in many cultures, and it was clear that the issue of colourism is incredibly prevalent in South Asian communities.

Throughout the show, both Aunty Sima and her clients state that 'fair' is a requirement often equated to beauty. Historically, South Asians of a lighter complexion have been deemed as more desirable in almost every aspect of society, from job roles to social class. Indian Matchmaking shows we still have a lot to overcome.

Just days ago, the popular skin-bleaching product, 'Fair and Lovely' was renamed 'Glow and Lovely', after receiving several complaints that product further promotes the issue of colourism.

Famous Bollywood Actors, such as Shah Rukh Khan and Priyanka Chopra are just some of the few who have been called out for endorsing such products in the past.

As a child, I remember being told to avoid the sun because it would make me 'dark'. I didn’t really understand till later years that this would supposedly make me more unattractive. Although the latest wave of South Asian Activists are working to dismantle colourism, Indian Matchmaking has just proved to us that the issue is just as present in the current generation.

And now is a crucial time for communities to address this. We've only just begun to tackle impossible beauty standards in the last decade or so but clearly, the South Asian Community still have more to tackle than we knew.

Nevertheless, it's important to re-engage in the dialogue surrounding the issues that arise with these outdated traditions and develop as a culture – hopefully Indian Matchmaking has pushed us towards fighting for these changes.

Indian Matchmaking is available now on Netflix.


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