Mail order brides are women who lists herself as a ‘mail order bride’ at an agency or such like, who is available for marrying purposes.
Many of the agencies, known as marriage agencies, are based in developing countries such as Ukraine, Russia, Colombia, Brazil, India, China, Thailand, and the Philippines and are aimed at men from developed countries such as North America, Western Europe, South Korea, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand.
Is it illegal?
Mail order brides are legal in most countries including Australia, however there have been cases of murder in South Korea which had led the Philippine Embassy to warn against mail order brides going to that region due to repeated violence and murder.
Is it ethical?
Whether the Mail Order Bride industry is ethical remains a matter of opinion. Some say that the women consent to becoming part of the industry however according to Psychology Today there is a dark side: “Women who travel to a far-off country to marry a stranger are putting themselves at great risk, and grim statistics confirm the danger. Many incidents of violence (including murder) against mail order brides have been well documented, especially in the United States and South Korea. It is not unreasonable to assume that awkward or sinister men are over-represented in the pool of males who choose to pursue mates from so far away, and women should proceed with great caution if they choose to explore mating opportunities in this fashion.”
What it’s like to be a Mail Order Bride?
Ukrainian blogger Lera Lora penned a piece for Glamour where she described her experience as a mail order bride. “Sometimes, six years later, I still have to explain and defend my marriage to people who assume that I am unhappy or trapped. An American friend once teased me for being with an older man,” she wrote.
“Maybe there will always be people who question the validity of our bond. To them, I say, "It's real, it's there! Till death do us part." I believe that it's not so much how you get married but what you make of your marriage that matters. Like most couples, we have overcome difficult times and have had our fair share of battles (about closet space, most recently!). And, yes, it can be stressful being so far from my family and adapting to a new culture. But I know Steve will always be there for me, and I hope he can say the same about me. I didn't expect to find love when I signed up with that agency, but I did. I feel very, very lucky.”
The Process
Once you have decided on the woman you want to pursue, you will need to go through all the agency’s requirements to communicate with your chosen bride. Once you decide on who you want to marry you will need to pay a fee between $1,000-$15,000 plus associated costs for the wedding, visas and travel.
Divorce rates
According to HRF mail order bride divorce rates sit at around 20 per cent which is half the average divorce rate in Australia.