Making and Breaking: An Analysis of Representation and Nonrepresentation in Indian Matchmaking

This paper critically analyzes the Netflix reality show Indian Matchmaking through the lens of feminist and postcolonial theory, focusing on the cultural and social implications of matchmaking practices depicted in the series. By utilizing the theoretical frameworks of Simone de Beauvoir, Stuart Hall, and Michel Foucault, this paper explores how the show reinforces gender roles, caste hierarchies, and Eurocentric beauty ideals. Additionally, the paper integrates meme culture and humor as a medium of resistance against these established norms, highlighting how digital spaces enable viewers to critique the problematic representations within the show. Through this intersectional approach, the paper reveals how Indian Matchmaking perpetuates and critiques societal stereotypes, shedding light on the complex and evolving nature of identity, marriage, and social expectations in contemporary Indian culture.