The phrase “bride by mail” elicits a range of emotions, from amazement and intrigue to suspicion and skepticism. For some, it conjures up images of genuine love blossoming across borders, while others imagine a landscape full with potential scams. But what is the truth beneath mail order brides? The reality lies to some extent in between.
Mail order brides have a long and complex past in America, starting with the practice of placing ads in newspapers for brides during the Gold Rush in the 19th century. Lonely men in the Western territories looked for Eastern or overseas women to marry and settle down, while the women often left their families behind to start a new life with their husbands. Although the practice had some pitfalls, it aided form communities and brought many couples together.
Today, international marriage brokering has become a booming industry. A basic Google search for “mail order bride” brings up numerous websites and services offering women from all over the world to marry American men. While some experts argue that this equates to human trafficking, others maintain that the majority of the women who enroll for this service do so with their consent.
While there are many different reasons why women choose to be a mail-order bride, the most frequent is a wish for stability and a lasting relationship. These women usually come from countries with restricted economic or social prospects, and are seeking partners who share their values. They also tend to wish for a more traditional lifestyle than they can find domestically. It is not uncommon for men to purchase brides from Asia, Latin America, or Europe to get the kind of family they have constantly dreamed of.
Despite the stereotypes of downtrodden mail-order brides in ramshackle countries, many of these women are in fact quite successful and accomplished, with education, jobs, and other achievements to their names. Moreover, studies have shown that marriages mailorderbridesites.com arranged through dating tourism agencies have a much lower divorce rate than marriages between domestic couples.
In addition to the financial benefits, many of these relationships also provide the women with a sense of pride and empowerment. They are able to show off their accomplishments, learn about a foreign culture, and most importantly, have the freedom to be who they are without fear of judgement.
However, it is important to highlight that a number of the men who use international marriage brokers are abusive and can be very dangerous to their brides. This is why Congress enacted the Violence Against Women Act in 2006, which requires that international marriage brokers be licensed and regulated by the federal government. This is a critical step in addressing domestic violence, as well as ensuring that the women who are recruited to be mail-order brides are protected against abuse and exploitation by their husbands.