"See this? A typical alliance seeking ad from the matrimonial paper today. A beautiful, fair, tall, convent-educated, 20 something girl from good social background, should never read this in the first place. She'd expect a little romance in the proposal, don't you think? Still if a girl responds to this I guess it's just sad." She spent the rest of the time quoting a few more examples trying to impress on me how surprised she was by the element of specificity in the alliances being sought. Her point was that all this arranged marriage marketing was just unromantic and sad. That's Liz. She is a sucker for love stories, flowers and anything that is remotely romantic. To her, if it's not romantic it's just sad.
I was taken aback too. But the things I noticed were rather different.
Tall (5' 4" – 5' 7"). What the hell is that? Isn't that deep level of detailing really a little absurd? Let it mention the foot size as well then, shall we? Say 7(Indian size).
By convent-educated, I hope it is clearly understood that the applicant must mean a virtuous non-lesbian virgin. Please provide attested documentary evidence if hymen ruptured while jogging, cycling etc.
The proposal starts with emphasis on complexion, FAIR it says. Clearly, applicants with wheatish and darker skin tones need not respond to this ad. OK, so it's not only endorsing color differences but also perpetuating it. Some people can't help this deep-seated belief in white supremacy that I guess has been instilled into us since the time the British ruled India. In a way, this love of fair skin does reflect some degree of mental slavery because of not being able to come to terms with the true nature of our self-identity. We desire this other that we consider superior in some sense, and this other controls us to some degree as we cannot seem to control the desire for it. Maybe one day things will be different but for now, if you happen to be dark then sorry sweetheart.
A homely girl I guess suggests that the girl better be somebody who is content with a mindless domestic life, is respectful to in-laws and takes care of them whenever necessary, is happy to spend most of her life bringing up her future kids, and never says no when sex is required. Please understand that it is not easy to run a business empire and sex may be the only stress busting activity your husband would have time for.
But contrary to general notion this ad will receive response from girls. According to Liz this is sad. May be, may be not. May be the interested girls see this as an opportunity to get a husband belonging to wealthy industrialist family, to own palatial houses with typical Indian sop-opera style twin converging staircases… you know, the ones that look like a necklace, promise of luxurious life that is. So it is understood that a lot of girls who would be interested solely on the basis of reading this ad would have to be materialistic, most probably shallow and the kinds that are easily attracted to ostentation. So I would suggest that you weigh everything carefully if and when you respond to this ad, you gold-digging bitch.
But contrary to general notion this ad will receive response from girls. According to Liz this is sad. May be, may be not. May be the interested girls see this as an opportunity to get a husband belonging to wealthy industrialist family, to own palatial houses with typical Indian sop-opera style twin converging staircases… you know, the ones that look like a necklace, promise of luxurious life that is. So it is understood that a lot of girls who would be interested solely on the basis of reading this ad would have to be materialistic, most probably shallow and the kinds that are easily attracted to ostentation. So I would suggest that you weigh everything carefully if and when you respond to this ad, you gold-digging bitch.
---Chris---
