Current Size of the Mail Order Bride Business in the US - Article Example

Mail Order Bride Concept and history Mail order bride is the term used for women who publish their desire to marry someone belonging to another - generally more developed - country (Wikipedia). The businesses of mail order brides date back to about 200 years when women who intended to marry someone used to make their own catalogues (documents providing the external description about the women and their brief biography) and then were selected by men from other countries for marriage. However, in earlier times there used to be lack of communication between the prospective bride and groom before their marriage, but with the development on internet the communication between the two has improved a lot in recent times (MCCLELLAND, 2002) . The mail order brides generally belong to second and third world countries such as Ukraine, Russia, Colombia, Mexico, Philippines, Africa, India, and Malaysia, however, some mail order brides also belong to first world nations such as Sweden, Japan, and Canada. The husbands generally belong to the developed nations such as United States, Canada, United Kingdom, and Australia. At present about 150,000 potential spouses advertize on the internet. The males who advertise their intend to marry someone in another country are known as mail order grooms (Wikipedia). Generally there are following two distinctive processes for application for mail order brides. The first process is the tradiational process which involves preparation of actual paper catalogues by the prospective brides and advertizing them in magazines such as Car and Driver, Stereo Review, and Rolling Stone, to get men to order them. These paper catalogues are distributed world wide through the maganizes (Ho). The scond process is the more recent one in which the women are solicited by an agency through a newspaper advertisement and their catalogues are advertized on the internet. However, in this process there is an inherent assumption by the advertisers that the women who apply belong to economically challenged classes, so there are cases of exploitation by the husbands in this process (Ho). Once the women is accepted by the agency, she undergoes a rigourous screening process which includes an in-depth questionnaire. The prospective mail order brides are interviewed on the basis of various factors including physical appearance, family background, eduction, work experience and other character refrences. However, apart form asking about themselves they are also asked about their desired match (groom) in oreder to make a perfect match. After the woman has successfully qualified all the screening rounds, the agency reviews her choices and looks for a suitable groom. In recent times the mail order bride business has gained momentum due to the increase in emmigration to developed nations from developing nations. Presently there are more than 200 agencies having operations in mail order business in the US. The companies in this business generate margins by charging both the counterparts for their communiactions and also for the services provided (Ho). Current size of the Mail Order Bride Business in the US Currently, there are more than 400 companies operating this business in the US (as compared to 200 such agencies under operation in 1996) and the revenue generated is more than $500,000 annually. The main target markets for mail order brides are the developing countries like Philippines, Former USSR and other Asian countries. In 2002, there were several thousand Filipina mail order brides in Canada and more than 5,000 such brides arrived to North America annually (MCCLELLAND, 2002). Also, currently there are over one million women from the former USSR who desire to become mail order brides for foreign men (MailOrderBrides.com). Also according to one of the web-sites there are more than 100 new profiles added each week (Bridesbymail). The main reason for targeting these markets is the stereotype of the women in these nations, as most of the women in these nations are known to be submissive, loyal, soft spoken and sometimes meek. Also, the motivation towards choosing the grooms from developed nations such as US, Canada or Australia is that most of the grooms seeking for mail order brides are from the affluent class and have enough resources to finance the living of bride as well as of the bride's family. Reasons for participation in this business The main parties involved in this business are the mail order bride, husband and the intermediary agency involved. All the three parties have different perspectives and motivations for their participation in the business. Mail Order Brides' Perspective From the perspective of the bride there are several advantages and disadvantages for entering into this business. Since, most of the mail order brides belong to second or third world countries, so this business is a quick and comparatively easier way to reach developing nations and improved their standards of living, in fact, in many of the developing and under-developed countries, this business is seen as a escape from poverty. Moreover, since most of the mail order brides are the only support for their family so it helps them finance the needs of their family also. In many cases, the grooms even finance the studies and training for the brides which help the bride develop intellectually and professionally; most of the brides even work after they are settled with their husbands. However, this business doesn't always work so perfectly for each and every mail order bride and has a number of drawbacks accompanied with them. There have been cases where the mail order brides have been cheated by providing fake and wrong information; also there have been cases when the brides have been physically, mentally or sexually assaulted by their husbands. Moreover, since the brides are generally very submissive and genteel, all their decisions and plans are controlled by their husbands and the brides seem to loose their own identity and confidence. Also, since the country of the husband is totally new and different for the bride, so they also face a number of problems in adjusting with the culture and the society, sometimes it becomes a cultural shock for them (Anastasia) (Goodwife) (Loveme). Grooms' Perspective In most of the cases, it is a win-win situation for the grooms as they have the opportunity to select the bride from a pool of options. The grooms are generally divorcees, so they exactly know what they want from their prospective bride. Moreover, the very fact that they are divorcees justifies that they are not comfortable with the demanding, independent and modern western women, so mail order brides are a perfect match for them as they are generally submissive, loyal and soft spoken. Also, since most of them belong to high earning classes, so they are not very much concerned about the costs involved in the business. Companies and agencies involved and their perspectives The sole objective for the intermediary companies and agencies involved in this business is to make profit and earn dollars. The prices demanded in this business by the agencies vary from about $5,000 to $15,000. Since, in recent times the business has diversified and there are a number of agencies involved in this business, so it becomes very necessary for the companies to offer professional, most economical and competitive service to the customers (both the brides and the grooms). Is the business ethical Though, the mail order bride business has a number of advantages and disadvantages associated with itself, in my opinion, the business are not ethical. There are a number of reasons for my deductions. Basis of match making - The most prominent characteristic of this business is that right from the beginning, the catalogue used for the advertisement is mainly based on the physical characteristics of the woman sowing the industry's emphasis on external appearances, and in fact the photographs accompanying the descriptions are also very alluring. There is very less emphasis on the inner beauty of the spouses and in most of the cases the intellectual standard and integrity of the spouse, which in my belief is very necessary for a successful relationship, is completely neglected. Loss of identity of the bride - Since the mail order brides and their families are generally supported financially by the grooms and since in most of the cases the bride is completely dependent on the groom, so, they tend to loose their identity and decision making power. Also, the brides face a number of problems in adjusting with the advanced and different culture. Male Dominance - In this business males have an upper hand over females as they are the ones who have the option to choose their match. Luck - The whole process of selection and match making is based on luck which is very unethical as the decision can be a major deciding factor in an individual's life. Is this business similar to adopting an Orphan In my opinion, the business has no resemblance with that of adopting an Orphan. In the latter case, an orphan, who has no other support, is adopted by an individual and is provided all the avenues needed for his/her development, which is a very ethical and enlightened deed. However, in the former case, in most of the cases the relationship is an adjustment or alternative for the earlier relationship and also the bride is not given an equal opportunity and power. Competitive Landscape The other types of businesses which compete with the mail order business are as follows. Classified and online matchmaking business (Goodwife) Internet services offering sex trade - Since the requirements of the groom for a number of cases is just satisfaction of physical needs, so the business faces a threat from sex trade also. Should one enter this business On the basis of above mentioned facts and nuances about the business, in my opinion, it is ethically wrong for an individual to enter this business. However, if one's sole objective is to make profits without giving much importance to the end results, then one should enter this business, as there are several profit making avenues available here and the business is expected to grow in future. Bibliography ASIAN MAIL-ORDER BRIDES [Journal]/ auth. Ho Christine.- [s.l.]: US Asians. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mail-order_bride [Online]/ auth. Wikipedia. http://www.ab3.com/ [Online]/ auth. brides Asia. http://www.anastasia-international.com/ [Online]. http://www.bridesbymail.com/ [Online]. http://www.goodwife.com/ [Online]/ auth. Goodwife. http://www.loveme.com/ [Online]/ auth. Loveme. http://www.mailorderbrides.com/ [Online]/ auth. MailOrderBrides.com. http://www.singlebrides.com/ [Online]/ auth. brides New. THE MAIL-ORDER BRIDE BUSINESS [Journal]/ auth. MCCLELLAND SUSAN,.- [s.l.]: Maclean's, 00249262, 2002.- 43: Vol. 115. Read More