The Marriage Market: The Mail-Order Bride Industry in the United States!

The international bride market has generated more than 2 billion dollars in 2010 in the United States alone. The concept of a “mail-order bride” is one that dates back to the founding of the United States. Many people believe this practice to be antiquated, but with the addition of technology, this industry has become very prevalent in modern society. I will examine the effects the mail order bride industry has had on views regarding women in the United States, Asia and Europe and show how this industry still has relevance today. I will track the way this industry has shaped the economy as well as attitudes towards women. In Europe and Asia, poverty and war play large roles in recruiting women for the international bride trade. The United States has a large market of men seeking brides from other countries to fill more traditional gender roles. In both cases, women are valued as commodities. These findings have interesting implications for the structure of the American family and the way in which women are viewed around the world