Not being from the same culture as someone can cause a lot of difficulties when it comes to dating. At its core, the West is more of an individualistic society, concerned with what benefits them and their personal desires rather than their community. Eastern cultures, on the other hand, focus on a collective society and what will benefit its entire community, along with its ultimate goals rather than idealistic adventures.
Culture shapes everything we know about dating – here are the biggest differences between dating in the East and the West.
1. Choose a partner
Western: Choosing the right partner for Westerners is often based on appearance and whether or not you fall in love with that person. Romance plays an important role when it comes to choosing your final partner. Finances don’t necessarily matter.
Eastern: Parents often choose who will marry whom, in Eastern cultures, and appearance is not always the deciding factor. Even if it’s not fixed, stability and finances will play a big role in choosing a partner rather than the spark you find based on physical attractiveness or what you have in common.
2. Appointments
Western: It is common to date multiple people and even have casual relationships and flings before settling down and marrying someone. Marriage is not always the goal in these situations.
Eastern: In many Eastern cultures dating before marriage is prohibited and many people are expected to practice abstinence.
3. marriage
Western: Most Western couples have slept together and dated for a long period of time before getting married. They meet of their own free will, even on a dating site, and from there they decide the fate of their relationship, including whether or not they want to have children.
Eastern: Many Eastern marriages are arranged marriages and in most cases are arranged by parents meeting and introducing themselves to their children. Soon after getting married, they are expected to have children, or at least express a desire to have them.
4. Woman in charge
Western: It’s common to see American and European girls being completely independent in their relationships, taking charge and wearing the pants. If a woman earns more than her partner, this is considered normal and acceptable.
Oriental: Women are often in a submissive position when it comes to independence: their man is in charge of the relationship, and female independence is considered “unladylike.”
5. PDA
Western: You will often see Western couples holding hands, hugging or even kissing in public to show their affection for each other.
Oriental: The PDA is very unusual in many Eastern cultures and is even considered disrespectful. Simply touching the arm of the opposite sex is considered scandalous in some of these cultures, if you can believe it.
