An Australian woman has become a social media sensation for her no-holds-barred view of India’s dating culture. Bree Steele, a podcast producer, began visiting the country last year and documented her observations about it, drawing comparisons to how it works in Australia.
In a viral Instagram video, Steele points to several stark contrasts she has noticed. “In Australia, guys flirt by bantering, which can often come across as mean,” she says. “Here, people are just so nice, and things move fast! One time at a party, flirting, this guy just reached out and took my hand, which nobody would ever do back home in Australia!
Steele also attended a dating event in Mumbai and called it a strange experience because “it was just like a school disco. For the first hour, women only spoke to other women, and men spoke to men. There was no mixing.” Despite the awkward start, she found it reflective of the changing faces of dating in India.
She said the Indian scene really took a cue from Bollywood, and most people acted like they were following some movie script or scenario. “It feels like everybody acts based on what they have viewed in movies,” she added. The current generation of Indians was one of the first to actually casually date instead of just focusing on arranged marriages.
Steele also compared the different cultural contexts in which dating takes place within each culture. “In the West, dating stories and sex education are part of our upbringing. That doesn’t seem as prevalent in India, so cinematic portrayals might shape dating behaviors.”
Her observations have sparked an online discussion, where users comment, mostly curiosity-driven and sharing their feelings: “Your theory is so spot on, Bree!!” “How about we discuss it over dinner, smirks?” A user said, “Glad to know you weren’t disappointed at that dating event!” The conversation generally reflects a growing interest in the nuances of dating across cultures.
