Changing ‘Shades of Shaadi'

Ever since the recession/downturn cast its menacing shadow two-three years ago, men have been more willing to consider working women for wives (but, of course, don't mind that they earn lesser). And the consequent resistance to finding spouses from among non-resident Indians and the software and financial services sectors, is lifting gradually.

These are some of the findings from Shades of Shaadi, online matchmaker shaadi.com's annual survey on the Indian matrimony market.

Gourav Rakshit, Business Head, Shaadi.com, says that over the past couple of years, ‘compatibility' has emerged as a strong concern, and there is greater willingness to live in a joint family (54 per cent of men and 53 per cent of women).

A matter of degree

Men don't want their wives to be more educated than them (62 per cent said “equal to me”) and women (69 per cent) want their husbands to be more educated than them. Only 6 per cent of the males would mind marrying people who earn less than them.

Another interesting finding is that 60 per cent of the women respondents (and 56 per cent men) prefer marrying a person with siblings. (It's not clear why as this finding is yet to be mined for more information, says Rakshit.)

The private sector is the most favoured as an employer (69 per cent women, 44 per cent men) as the respondents believe jobs there offer better perks and benefits.

Rakshit said another interesting trend the surveys have thrown up over the last few years is the willingness of people from States such as UP, Bihar and Punjab – traditionally from/keen on business/IAS/IFS backgrounds – to consider partners from the private sector.

Future-secure

And though it's a “very, very microscopic portion” overall, 30 per cent of the survey's women respondents believe it is “very important” (40 per cent “somewhat important”) to have a pre-nuptial arrangement in place for a sense of security post-wedding!

Seventy-six per cent of men and 64 per cent women would reveal their financial assets pre-marriage. While horoscopes and caste are not very important factors now, they are less relaxed about religion, with 73 per cent of the men and 64 per cent of women saying ‘No' to inter-religious marriages.

This survey was conducted online for four months starting November 2010. Over 1.5 lakh responded, including NRIs from the US, the UK, Canada, West Asia, S-E Asia, Australia and New Zealand. Two-thirds of the respondents were male.

The online matrimony market is estimated at Rs 250 crore and Shaadi.com has a 40-45 per cent market share. Shaadi.com has been recognised as one of the most innovative companies of 2011 by Fast Company, US, a business media brand.

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