Abstract
AbstractMarriage is an ever-evolving institution for human beings. Migration for the purpose of marriage has increased in volume in the last two decades in Asia, partly due to the forces of neoliberalism. The growth of international marriage migration (IMM) has affected significantly the traditional practices associated with marital unions. Evidence suggests that IMM has emerged in different patterns in different parts of the world. Southeast Asia (SEA) and East Asia (EA) are both examples of a unique pattern of IMM emerging. However, as an attempt to counter feminist discourses that have largely positioned marriage migration as exploitative, this chapter examines drivers of such patterns from women’s perspectives. This paper argues that the context-specific patterns of marriage migration may offer women empowering opportunities, rather than marriage migration being always inherently exploitative. At the same time, it acknowledges the exploitative factors that can define these relationships. Based on data collected from 33 couples, this paper addresses the motives of the women of SEA and East Asia in choosing international marriage migration, demonstrating both their agency and structural oppression.KeywordsInternational marriageMigrationAsia
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