Why would Filipina women want to become mail-order brides?
The industry preys upon the economically impoverished and often politically persecuted foreign women wishing to come to the United States due to the scarcity of jobs and educational opportunities for women in the Philippines. Thanks to colonialism* and neocolonialism**, the political and economic institutions of the Philippines have been undermined by foreign interests. In part by cultural norms, and in part by governmental decree during the 1970’s, Filipinos working overseas regularly send remittances back home. The women tend to be poor, with little or no education, and from families which expect financial support from their daughters. They may think that being a bride gives more status than being a domestic helper and may see it as a more secure financial future. This is part of the feminization of poverty: women bear the burden of the impact of changes in transitional circuits. Furthermore, since their economic situation is so dire, marriage is the quickest way to get to the US leg
