Single Singaporeans and their hesitation to use commercial matchmaking services
September 4, 2018
Why weren’t Singaporeans keen on state-endorsed matchmaking services?
In 1984 Singapore initiated the Social Development Unit (SDU) and the Social Development Services (SDS) to provide matchmaking services for university graduates and non-graduates. In January 2009, SDU and SDS merged and on 16 October 2009 became known as Social Development Network (SDN). The SDN provides matchmaking services such as speed dating events to boost Singapore’s sinking marriage rates.
Dr Mathew Matthews (NUS LKYSPP Institute of Policy Studies) and Prof Paulin Straughan (formerly with the NUS Department of Sociology) interviewed 83 single Chinese, Indian, and Malay Singaporeans in their twenties and thirties, investigating why singles are unenthusiastic about state-initiated matchmaking services. They summed up the hesitation in four inter-related themes: an aversion to commodifying love and viewing potential spouses in terms of social status; an increasing belief that love is spontaneous and thus matchmaking services appear too orchestrated; a perceived lack of authenticity in matchmaking events; and negative stereotypes of users of matchmaking services.
The research reveals a gap between how Singaporeans and the state see marriage. While individuals increasingly link marriage to love and commitment, the state retains traditional notions of marriage as a more pragmatic transaction. Because of this increasing diversion in beliefs, the authors conclude that private matchmaking services with state-support will continue to alienate an ever modernizing Singaporean society.
Read this article, Single Singaporeans and their Hesitation to use Commercial Matchmaking Services (Journal of Comparative Family Studies, 2016) here.