What Are The Characteristics Of Women From India? 

Generally speaking, Indian society is incredibly traditional and patriarchal in nature – and, as such, the family plays a vital role in how Indian women think and act. Indeed, bonds between Indian families are incredibly close-knit and tight. This often means that your new Indian girlfriend will often have very strong relationships with her siblings – particularly between her mother and her sisters. Usually, Indian families will also have several generations of the family living at home at any time. For example, especially in older Indian families, it’s not uncommon for the parents, grandparents, aunts, and uncles to live under one roof in a large, communal unit. This point can often mean that family structures are much more involved in India than in many other countries. So when dating an Indian woman for the first time, be prepared to spend a significant amount of time alongside her family, with whom you’ll quite possibly develop a strong relationship. However, you’ll also want to ensure you put your best foot forwards when meeting your Indian girlfriend’s family, as they’ll quite possibly be very careful to ensure you’re a good partner.

Overall, the average number of people in India living in a household is 4.8 people, although this fluctuates somewhat between rural communities and inner-city living. In big cities such as New Delhi, for example, the population of people is exceptionally high, which often means that land is very much at a premium. As such, in city regions, the number of people living in a single household will often be higher. Meanwhile, families may keep themselves to themselves a little more in rural locations. The age of first marriage in India is also younger than in many other countries, owing to the importance of settling down in Indian culture. As such, around one-third of the Indian population tends to marry between the ages of eighteen and twenty. However, this is slowly declining as the Indian population begins to see very gradual changes regarding marriage and gender equality; as such, around 20% fewer people now marry young than around the turn of the century. 

Furthermore, owing to the highly traditional, patriarchal society, it’s also notable that the number of divorces in India is among the lowest in the world, with only around 1% of marriages ending in divorce. As such, if you’re looking for a relationship that is more likely to stand the test of time, India might be the perfect place for you. Moreover, considering the high importance of family in India, it is perhaps unsurprising that the average number of children per woman in India is higher than in many other counties; though this is falling by around 0.9% annually, the current fertility of Indian women is about 2.15 children per woman. Therefore, if you’re looking to start a family and settle down, dating an Indian woman might be a good option; after all, for many Indian women, starting a family is an essential aspect of their lives.

Despite having a much lower quality of life than many other countries internationally (based on a human development index score of just 0.645), India still provides free public education for children, which is state-run and managed by the state, central, and local governments. Despite the high number of students in education at any one time, the level of funding for Indian education is mainly comparable to many other developed countries. For example, the Indian educational system receives around $130 billion annually, similar to the £100 billion spent on public education in the United Kingdom (which has a significantly smaller population). As such, it’s unsurprising that the quality of publically funded education in India is not always as attentive as in other countries. The current literacy rate for Indian women and men is only around 74% on average; furthermore, it is notable that women are substantially lower, with over 65% of Indian women being considered literate. This low figure may be because many young Indian women leave school early to prepare for life as housewives.

Enrollment in education has steadily increased in recent years. However, it is essential to consider that total enrollment in education for Indian women and men is still lower than in many other countries. The vast majority of Indian children attend primary education, but only around two-thirds of Indian women and men participate in secondary education, and only one-quarter attend higher education. While at school, however, young Indian children often have the chance to benefit from the Midday Meal Scheme, which provides free lunches for children – a vital opportunity for many since poverty and child malnourishment are common issues in India. Moreover, it is important to consider that there are also two distinct types of schools in India. At the same time, most are recognized institutions providing curriculum-based courses; some are unrecognized and do not adhere to these courses as closely, meaning that India’s level, standard, and teaching style can also fluctuate significantly.

Outside of the world of education, job opportunities in India are often substantially lower than in many other countries. Due to the cheaper cost of living in India, many Indian workers do not make much, even when working on full-time contracts. As a result, the average hourly wage falls at around 180 INR, although this isn’t always clear, and some estimates are substantially lower at just shy of 100 INR per hour. This figure equals an hourly average of approximately £1 to £2. Furthermore, it’s also worth considering that the number of women working in India is much lower than in many other countries. This is because most Indian women are raised to be housewives rather than working, which means they often are reluctant to go to work, and many Indian people prefer their wives and partners to stay at home while they earn money. Plus, the number of Indian women in work has fallen in recent years further. Based on data from 2019, just over 20% of Indian women hold a paid position.

In many Asian countries, religion is significant in people’s daily lives, which is incredibly strong among Indian women and men. While the level of irreligion is growing in many Western cultures, often falling at around 10-30%, this is very uncommon among Indian women and men. The total number of women and men from India identifying as unaffiliated with a religion is very low, at just 0.23% of the population. Considering that the current Indian population is around 1.4 billion people, this figure indicates that only approximately 3 million people in India do not have a religion. This proportion is even fewer than the number of people following tribal religious beliefs such as Sarnaism, Tibetan Bon, Kirat Mundhum, and Donyi-Polo (many of which are unknown in Western cultures). Thus, when dating women from India, you must always be open-minded toward religion (even if you are not religious). It is highly likely that your new Indian partner or girlfriend will be religious, and many Indian women and men hold religion very dear as a significant part of their lives. 

There are numerous accepted religions in the country, and the Constitution of India outlines freedom of religion as a fundamental right of Indian women and men. Undeniably, the most common religion among Indian women and men is Hinduism, which accounts for almost 80% of the entire population. However, despite this high figure, India is typically very welcoming of different religions. Hinduism is considered the world’s oldest religion, and unsurprisingly, the religion has a strong basis in India. The second most common religion in India after Hinduism is Islam, with around 14% of the population, followed by Christianity (2.3%) and Sikhism (1.7%). Christianity was introduced to India by Thomas the Apostle, one of Jesus Christ’s direct believed disciples, in around 52C. Thomas the Apostle would go on to build the Thomaiyar Kovil, the oldest surviving church structure in the world (though it has been renovated to keep it useable). Now, despite the relatively small number of Christians in India by population, there are numerous Christian denominations in the country, including Catholicism, Protestantism, Oriental Orthodoxy, and Syrian Orthodoxy.

Other minority religions within India include Buddhism (around 0.7% of the Indian population, or approximately one million people) and Jainism. Tribal religions hold about 0.5% of the total population, while other religions, such as Judaism and the Baha’i Faith, only account for around 0.15% of the people in total). Therefore, in comparison to many other international religions, the religious status of India is largely unique; it is comprehensive and welcoming but is dominated by Hinduism and Islam, and only a minimal number of people (around 5% of the population) share other religions. It is worth considering here that the distribution of faith has changed significantly over the years; for example, in 1947, around 85% of the population followed Islam, and Islam used to account for only 9% of the population.

The mentality of Indian women is often significantly different from what you might expect from many other cultures due to the intense levels of patriarchy in the country. When dating Indian women, don’t be surprised if her mentality is largely more traditional and reserved than women from other cultures. However, that’s not to say that stunning women from India aren’t down for a laugh and a good time, but she likely may not be quite as expressive out in public as you may be used to. Indeed, Indian women are often reserved, quiet, and respectful when out in public; they may make small talk with other people. Still, it’s not uncommon for Indian women to keep themselves to themselves more and may be reluctant to mingle with other men. As such, you may want to spend some time encouraging your Indian partner that it is okay to talk to others – but don’t push her if she feels uncomfortable with this.

It’s also worth considering that, in line with this strongly patriarchal societal structure, many Indian women are incredibly devoted and loving to their partners and families. From an early age, many young Indian girls are taught that the key to success as an Indian woman is to marry well, settle down, and start a family – something that doesn’t always align with her dreams and aspirations. As such, when dating Indian women, we’d also recommend encouraging her to be more open about what she wants rather than letting her work herself to the bone solely to please you; she might not know any differently, but she deserves the chance to explore her dreams and hopes in our opinion, and if this is something you share, it’s essential to be patient with her. Many traditional Indian customs still come through strongly today, which is crucial to consider.

Finally, it’s worth considering that, in many cases, an Indian woman’s mentality will be almost sacrificial. For many women in India, the essential goal is ensuring that their family is well cared for and that their partner is happy; this doesn’t leave much room for her time. As such, the role of Indian women is often very sacrificial, as many Indian women find themselves giving up their hopes to ensure that the dreams of their parents, partners, and children are met. This point often means that Indian women are exceptionally generous and put others before themselves. However, encouraging her to speak her mind, stand up for herself, and live her life may help her feel more optimistic in the long run. However, don’t push change on your new Indian partner too quickly; after all, she has potentially grown up in a very traditional culture, and she may not feel comfortable expressing herself around you for a while. As such, the best option generally here is to take it slow and steady, and you’ll hopefully achieve great results when dating your Indian girlfriend accordingly.