Historic, cultural, and legal analysis of the 'Mail order bride' industry case study: The United States and the Philippines

The author aims to provide a historical, cultural and legal analysis of the 'mail-order bride' industry and the role of International Marriage Brokers (IMBs) to facilitate these relationships. It uses the United States and the Philippines as a case study to better understand why the majority of 'mail-order brides' come from the Philippines. First, it outlines theories of transnational migration and how they seek to explain the experience of 'mail-order brides.' Second, it examines the colonial and post-colonial history between the two countries and how the labor export policy of the Philippines has led to a reliance on work overseas and contributes to the desire of 'mail-order brides' to seek international opportunities. Third, it analyzes how the 'mail-order bride' industry is viewed from the American and Filipino perspectives and discusses cultural motivations for participating in the IMB industry. It looks at the myths and stereotypes that exist within the industry. Fourth, it provides a thorough review of the existing legislation in both countries and evaluates the effectiveness of these laws. Finally, the conclusion and analysis addresses the issue of Filipino migration, the agency employed by Filipinas, and stresses a need for further cultural analysis. It also emphasizes the importance of the implementation and enforcement of the current legislation in the U.S. in order to ensure the full protection of foreign spouses.