ABSTRACT
Most dating services, online or otherwise, try to “match” people based upon similar interests, values, likes and dislikes, and short- and long-term goals. Information used to make successful matches includes culture or racial identity, socioeconomic status (salary) and religious and/or religious denomination affiliation, interests, values, and education. It is not surprising that most people looking for a potential partner want him or her to “match” at least one or more of the criteria mentioned. For the majority of Americans, marrying someone who is demographically similar seems to be the norm (Gardyn, 2002). On the other hand, there are considerable cultural, social, and religious pressures that actually dissuade individuals from coupling within someone who is much different from them (Lara & Duba Onedera, 2008).
