Internet Mail-Order Brides from Russia

By: Anthony Randazzo ANT 39

Those opposed to the mail-order bride phenomenon cite the frequent Those opposed to the mail-order bride phenomenon cite the frequent exploitation of women as a reason for banning the practice. Those in exploitation of women as a reason for banning the practice. Those in favor of it say that Russian women have few opportunities outside of favor of it say that Russian women have few opportunities outside of these matchmaking services and that all men cannot be dismissed as these matchmaking services and that all men cannot be dismissed as

predators.predators.The photo below is taken from a matchmaking agency website.The photo below is taken from a matchmaking agency website.

The phenomenon of Mail The phenomenon of Mail Order Brides (MOB) is Order Brides (MOB) is nothing new.nothing new.

11stst World Husbands Seek 3 World Husbands Seek 3rdrd World Brides.World Brides.

They come from various They come from various nations.nations.

It’s highly politicized, It’s highly politicized, gendered and controversial.gendered and controversial.

Can it be justified?Can it be justified?

A Complex IssueA Complex Issue

Data seems to Data seems to show that failed show that failed expectations, not expectations, not physical abuse or physical abuse or exploitation, is at exploitation, is at the heart of most the heart of most problems in a mail-problems in a mail-order marriage.order marriage.

Then again, those in an Then again, those in an abusive relationship abusive relationship would hardly be would hardly be forthcoming in forthcoming in answering an anthro-answering an anthro-pologist’s questions or pologist’s questions or filling out a survey.filling out a survey.

HistoryHistory Mail-order brides have existed in Mail-order brides have existed in

this country since the Jamestown this country since the Jamestown settlements in 1619.settlements in 1619.

Later, during the Gold Rush, men Later, during the Gold Rush, men went West in search of fortune but went West in search of fortune but found it difficult to meet women. found it difficult to meet women. They would correspond with women They would correspond with women back East in the hopes of finding a back East in the hopes of finding a suitable mate.suitable mate.

WWII saw a great number of GI’s WWII saw a great number of GI’s bringing home war brides.bringing home war brides.

The advent of the internet has The advent of the internet has taken the boutique mail-order taken the boutique mail-order correspondence business and correspondence business and turned it into an incredibly turned it into an incredibly profitable business model. A profitable business model. A Google search of mail-order brides Google search of mail-order brides produces 2.94 million hits.produces 2.94 million hits.

There are numerous reasons why There are numerous reasons why women join these agencies besides women join these agencies besides

simply gaining citizenship.simply gaining citizenship.

Why Russian women choose to Why Russian women choose to be mail-order brides.be mail-order brides.

Proponents of M.O.B.s say that these women are Proponents of M.O.B.s say that these women are merely coping with their depressed economic status.merely coping with their depressed economic status.

Many women claim a lack suitable Russian mates Many women claim a lack suitable Russian mates choose from—there are high rates of alcholism, choose from—there are high rates of alcholism, short life expectancy (58.6 years for men), and short life expectancy (58.6 years for men), and disagreement over gender roles. Men are disagreement over gender roles. Men are increasingly relocating to the city in search of steady increasingly relocating to the city in search of steady work, leaving a shortage of men on the countryside. work, leaving a shortage of men on the countryside.

Gender roles in rural Russia are complex. Women Gender roles in rural Russia are complex. Women often want men to work and help provide for the often want men to work and help provide for the household. Men often work to gain autonomy from household. Men often work to gain autonomy from the household, setting aside money for their own the household, setting aside money for their own entertainment. This desire to have a man who is entertainment. This desire to have a man who is willing to provide financial stability for the household willing to provide financial stability for the household is often seen by Western men as submissiveness is often seen by Western men as submissiveness and conformity to traditional gender roles. and conformity to traditional gender roles.

Opponents of the mail-order bride Opponents of the mail-order bride

phenomenon claim rampant exploitation phenomenon claim rampant exploitation and opportunism by foreign men.and opportunism by foreign men.

Opponents also fear possible trafficking Opponents also fear possible trafficking and induction into the sex industry by and induction into the sex industry by unscrupulous agencies.unscrupulous agencies.

According to the International According to the International Organization for Migration, organized Organization for Migration, organized crime networks control all mail-order bride crime networks control all mail-order bride agencies in the republics of the former agencies in the republics of the former Soviet Union.Soviet Union.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nqG1oGIgRAM

Russian Matchmaking and Russian Matchmaking and Introduction ServicesIntroduction Services

There are thousands of matchmaking There are thousands of matchmaking agencies in the US, Russia, and agencies in the US, Russia, and abroad.abroad.

Many of these agencies are Many of these agencies are legitimate, some are aimed at legitimate, some are aimed at scamming both the men and women scamming both the men and women involved.involved.

The Youtube link is to the trailer of a documentary film about Russian mail-order brides called, “From Russia, My Love”

There is no regulation There is no regulation controlling a matchmaking controlling a matchmaking

agency as long as:agency as long as: They are not involved They are not involved

in slavery, trafficking, in slavery, trafficking, or prostitution.or prostitution.

They are not They are not committing fraud.committing fraud.

They’re abiding by They’re abiding by the International the International Marriage Broker Marriage Broker Regulation Act of Regulation Act of 2005 (IMBRA). 2005 (IMBRA).

In the past, matchmaking In the past, matchmaking services would often services would often simply sell addresses and simply sell addresses and leave it up to the leave it up to the individuals to correspond. individuals to correspond. Today’s matchmaking Today’s matchmaking services in the former services in the former Soviet Union provide a Soviet Union provide a wealth of services wealth of services including travel including travel arrangements, legal aid, arrangements, legal aid, foreign language foreign language translation services, and translation services, and online gift shops, to name online gift shops, to name a few. a few.

Scams are all too commonScams are all too common

Not all matchmaking agencies are Not all matchmaking agencies are equal.equal.

Some agencies post fake pictures and Some agencies post fake pictures and solicit money from American men via solicit money from American men via form letters.form letters.

Some agencies claim to offer Some agencies claim to offer matchmaking or employment matchmaking or employment services, only to traffic the services, only to traffic the unsuspecting women all over the unsuspecting women all over the world to engage in the sex industry. world to engage in the sex industry.

Why men choose Russian mail-Why men choose Russian mail-order bridesorder brides

Nearly 80% of men seeking brides in Russia are Nearly 80% of men seeking brides in Russia are white Americans, with the remaining 20% white Americans, with the remaining 20% comprised of English, German, and Australian comprised of English, German, and Australian men. men.

Unlike Asian women, they’re less apparently mail-Unlike Asian women, they’re less apparently mail-order brides. order brides.

Advertising—agencies describe the women as Advertising—agencies describe the women as middle-class and family oriented, suggesting middle-class and family oriented, suggesting similar values and backgrounds.similar values and backgrounds.

The most sought after women from matchmaking The most sought after women from matchmaking agencies are between 25 and 35 years old, have agencies are between 25 and 35 years old, have no more than one child, and have some higher no more than one child, and have some higher education.education.

The link at the bottom is to a website advocating mail-order brides. It is The link at the bottom is to a website advocating mail-order brides. It is written by an immigration attorney. written by an immigration attorney.

http://http://www.goodwife.com/index.php?pidwww.goodwife.com/index.php?pid=40=40

I’ve added this for full disclosure about the previous link: I’ve added this for full disclosure about the previous link: An excerpt from the USA Today online, dated 4/17/2008 3:50 PM (emphasis An excerpt from the USA Today online, dated 4/17/2008 3:50 PM (emphasis

added)added) Big names owe big-time on Big names owe big-time on taxes taxes By Dennis Cauchon, USA TODAY By Dennis Cauchon, USA TODAY William Livingston, an immigration attorney who William Livingston, an immigration attorney who

specializes in mail-order brides, says a $20,000 specializes in mail-order brides, says a $20,000 tax problem from 20 years ago has swelled to tax problem from 20 years ago has swelled to nearly $300,000 owed to California today. nearly $300,000 owed to California today. "There's no reasoning with these people," the San "There's no reasoning with these people," the San Dimas, Calif., resident says of state tax collectors. Dimas, Calif., resident says of state tax collectors. His business — bringing brides here from Russia His business — bringing brides here from Russia and Ukraine — is struggling. and Ukraine — is struggling. His own mail-order His own mail-order marriage didn't work outmarriage didn't work out, so he's a single , so he's a single parent living in a small apartment with a son, he parent living in a small apartment with a son, he says. "Most of my stuff is out of the country, says. "Most of my stuff is out of the country, anyway, where (tax collectors) can't touch it," anyway, where (tax collectors) can't touch it," Livingston says. "I can retire abroad, and Livingston says. "I can retire abroad, and California can put me on any (tax delinquent) list California can put me on any (tax delinquent) list they want." they want."

A gendered proposition.A gendered proposition.

It’s important to note that it’s 1It’s important to note that it’s 1stst World World men men that are in pursuit of 3that are in pursuit of 3rdrd World World womenwomen. While some Mail-. While some Mail-Order-Husband agencies have Order-Husband agencies have appeared, they are dwarfed and appeared, they are dwarfed and overshadowed by the sheer volume overshadowed by the sheer volume of traditional mail-order-bride of traditional mail-order-bride services.services.

Regulation, Legislation, and Regulation, Legislation, and OppositionOpposition

Two main methods of bringing a Two main methods of bringing a bride to the United States bride to the United States

Marrying her Marrying her abroad and then abroad and then applying for an applying for an immigrant visa.immigrant visa.

The groom can file The groom can file for a fiancée visa for a fiancée visa allowing the bride allowing the bride to enter the to enter the country for 90 days country for 90 days to marry.to marry.

The United States requires couples to have met The United States requires couples to have met

previously before issuing a fiancée visa. Men will previously before issuing a fiancée visa. Men will either travel to the MOBs home nation, or will either travel to the MOBs home nation, or will meet in a neutral destination where no visa is meet in a neutral destination where no visa is needed (like Jamaica).needed (like Jamaica).

Once married, MOBs must wait 2 years before Once married, MOBs must wait 2 years before petitioning for divorce or face deportation (recent petitioning for divorce or face deportation (recent legislation allows for divorce in cases of physical legislation allows for divorce in cases of physical abuse, but not mental abuse or infidelity).abuse, but not mental abuse or infidelity).

Opponents say that 2 years is too long to wait Opponents say that 2 years is too long to wait because it opens the door to the possibility of because it opens the door to the possibility of abuse, domination, and exploitation. abuse, domination, and exploitation.

Other countries, like Germany, require a mail-Other countries, like Germany, require a mail-order-bride to wait 4 years before filing for order-bride to wait 4 years before filing for divorce to avoid deportation. divorce to avoid deportation.

Under the US Violence Against Women Under the US Violence Against Women Act of 1994, women can petition for Act of 1994, women can petition for residency to extricate themselves from residency to extricate themselves from an abusive marriage.an abusive marriage.

In 1996, Congress passed the Illegal In 1996, Congress passed the Illegal Immigration Reform and Responsibility Immigration Reform and Responsibility Act. This was supposed to be a measure Act. This was supposed to be a measure to reduce illegal aliens, but its scope was to reduce illegal aliens, but its scope was far reaching, affecting many mail-order far reaching, affecting many mail-order brides. brides.

The Philippines passed legislation making The Philippines passed legislation making mail-order bride agencies illegal.mail-order bride agencies illegal.

In 1990, Philippines President In 1990, Philippines President Corazon Aquino signed a law that Corazon Aquino signed a law that outlawed the bride trade. It had little outlawed the bride trade. It had little effect. Agencies simply stopped effect. Agencies simply stopped referring to themselves as marriage referring to themselves as marriage services, and began advertising as services, and began advertising as pen pal services.pen pal services.

In 1995 a mail-order bride from the In 1995 a mail-order bride from the Philippines was shot to death by her Philippines was shot to death by her abusive husband in Seattle.abusive husband in Seattle.

The industry is desperate for The industry is desperate for regulation, but effective regulation regulation, but effective regulation has proven to be next to impossible.has proven to be next to impossible.

ConclusionsConclusions

Women, dependant on their husbands, Women, dependant on their husbands, face potential exploitation, and are face potential exploitation, and are vulnerable to abuse.vulnerable to abuse.

Men risk financial ruin and heartache Men risk financial ruin and heartache at the hands of their mail-order brides. at the hands of their mail-order brides.

Unscrupulous agencies prey on men Unscrupulous agencies prey on men and women alike.and women alike.

Still…Still…

2,000-5,000 mail order marriages 2,000-5,000 mail order marriages occur in the US every year.occur in the US every year.

Despite the legal, ethical, and Despite the legal, ethical, and practical questions that the practice practical questions that the practice of mail-order brides creates, women of mail-order brides creates, women and men alike are still actively and men alike are still actively pursuing it as a mutually beneficial pursuing it as a mutually beneficial partnership.partnership.

Works Cited:1) Chittenden, V., 2000. TED Case Studies. Case 487: Russian Mail-Order Brides. Trade and Environment

Database (TED)Available from: http://www1.american.edu/ted/bride.htm[cited 1 May 2009]

2) Harris, N., 2001. Russia: Crashing into the Modern World. Economic and Political Weekly, Vol. 36, No. 33 (Aug. 18-24, 2001), pp. 3134-3136. Published by: Economic and Political Weekly Available from: Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/4410993[cited 28 April 2009]

3) Hughes, D., 2000. The “Natasha” Trade: The Transnational Shadow Market of Trafficking in Women. Journal of International Affairs, Vol. 53, No. 3, pp 625-651. Available from: http://www.uri.edu/artsci/wms/hughes/natasha_trade.pdf[cited 30 April 2009]

4) Livingston, W., 1997. Do’s and Don’ts in your Pursuit of Miss Right. GoodWife.com. Available from: http://www.goodwife.com/index.php?pid=40[cited 11 May 2009]

5) Luehmann, S., 2004. Mediated Marriage: Internet Matchmaking in Provincial Russia. Europe-Asia Studies, Vol. 56, No. 6, pp. 857-875. Published by: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. Available from: Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/4147369[cited 28 April 2009]

6) Cauchon, D., Big names owe big-time on taxes. The USA TODAY [online] April 17, 2008. Available from: http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2008-04-13-Taxcover_N.htm