RELATIONSHIPS
Is Commodifying Love Wrong?
As someone who works for an international matchmaking service, I often get asked about the morals and values of my job.
I understand. I know that some people aren’t fully aware of this kind of industry, so I don’t blame them if they have reservations about it.
While there are people who are genuinely curious, there are also those who seem to have negative opinions about my job.
There was even a time when I was asked, Why are you commodifying love? Why do you think love is just purely transactional relations?
She thought that I was a cruel and remorseless woman for choosing this job.
So I’m here to spread awareness and find the answer to the question, Is commodifying love wrong?
What is commodifying love?
Without sugarcoating anything, commodifying love means treating love as a commodity or a product that can be bought, sold, or traded.
It’s the idea that it can be reduced to a transaction, where one person gives something to another in exchange for love or affection.
It can manifest in different ways, like people using their wealth to attract partners, or treating dating and relationships as a competition to “win” someone over.
Are matchmakers commodifying love?
We matchmakers can be seen as commodifying love to some extent because we provide a service that helps people find love.
However, not all of us matchmakers approach our work in the same way. Many of us prioritize the emotional and personal aspects of relationships over the transactional exchange of love.
Personally, I make sure to spend time getting to know my clients on a deeper level and working to understand their needs and preferences when it comes to romantic partners.
I want to build meaningful and fulfilling connections between individuals rather than solely focusing on making a profit.
When is commodifying love wrong?
To clarify, commodifying love only becomes problematic when matchmakers prioritize profits over the well-being and happiness of their clients.
For instance, there are those who engage in unethical practices, like pressuring clients to accept matches that are not a good fit or withholding information about potential partners just to extend the length of the matchmaking process. Those practices are just wrong.
Not all matchmaking industries are the same.
Legitimate and ethical matchmakers prioritize informed consent, respect for their clients’ preferences and boundaries, and a commitment to creating genuine matches.
So when you say that matchmakers are commodifying love, yes, we may be, but certainly not in the way you think.
