Mail-order bride

Mail-order bride is the term often used to describe women who come to a foreign land from a less developed area after only correspondence or short meeting with their eventual mate. Usually the brides are from developing countries and sent to developed countries like United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Taiwan, Japan and western European countries such as Germany and the United Kingdom, or from a less developed area to more developed area in an unevenly developed country such as China.

Related Topics:
United States - Canada - Australia - New Zealand - Taiwan - Japan - European - Germany - United Kingdom

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The term probably originated during the colonial period when men travelled through various empires for financial gain. After establishing their income in a new colony they faced three choices:

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• stay single,
• marry a local indigenous woman or,
• seek to have an available woman come from the metropolitan centre; or in the case of economic immigrants that came from an economically depressed region to seek employment, from their mother country.

Often these marriages were arranged by members of the immigrants family 'back home' and the relatives picked amongst available women to find one that would suit their family member. Then they would negotiate with the woman before she left with her belongings (and perhaps with her children if she was a widow). Often these women were willing to travel for marriage because of the limited opportunity in their place of origin. This tradition continues amongst first generation immigrants to western countries, most particularly amongst Pakistani, Bangladeshi and East Indian males and females who wish to marry someone of similar social, economic and educational status; indeed many marriages are arranged in India and the bride and groom may have little if any opportunity to court before the marriage ceremony is conducted.

Related Topics:
Pakistan - Bangladesh - East Indian - Arranged

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During the twentieth century this tradition has been used for a (in some ways) similar, yet very different social phenomenon, that of an western male, usually second or third generation immigrant himself, seeking a woman from a more 'traditional' or non-western culture. For whatever reason, these men seek out women from various countries, most notably economically depressed parts of the world, such as countries in the Commonwealth of Independent States like Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and non-Muslim women from the other central Asian --stans, or from cultures where traditional views of femininity are still encouraged and women are expected to take care of their husbands and engage in housekeeping, child bearing and other domestic chores.

Related Topics:
Social phenomenon - Traditional - Non-western culture - Commonwealth of Independent States - Russia - Ukraine - Belarus - Muslim - -stan

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The Internet has led to a proliferation of services offering addresses, contact information and romance tours to men willing to pay for information about women who have expressed interest in relocating to various marriage agencies in their native countries.

Related Topics:
Internet - Romance tours

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These men often correspond by mail or email with these women, speak with them over the telephone with the use of translators and eventually after exchanging photos visit the women's country to decide if an engagement is possible. Often after very short courtships the men propose to the women, as they must return home to return to work and hire a lawyer to prepare the visa paperwork.

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Mail-order bride: Countries of origin ►