Foreign Brides Research - Psychosocial Profile and Perspectives of Foreign Brides - May 2007

Oct 13, 2026

Research publication produced by the Asia Pacific Mission for Migrants (APMM) with support from Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst e.V. (EED), examining the psychosocial profile and perspectives of foreign brides. The work traces APMM’s earlier advocacy on cases of violence against Filipino brides, then outlines current demographic trends in women migrant workers. It defines research objectives, key questions about origins, motivations, processes, coping and adaptation, and discusses government and community mechanisms supporting integration and rights.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryGeneral

FormatPDF

Pages56

Reading Time20 min

AccessFree to download

Acknowledgements

Introduction

Objectives and Content of the Study

Overall Context of the Foreign Brides Issue

Who are foreign brides? Where do they come from?

Where do they go to?

Why do they marry foreign men?

What are the processes and mechanisms they underwent?

How do they cope and adapt to their new situation

Foreign Brides Research Psychosocial Profile and Perspectives of Foreign Brides By the Asia Pacific Mission for Migrants (APMM) Supported by the Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst e.V. (EED) May 2007 Psychosocial Profile and Perspectives of Foreign Brides Acknowledgements The Asia Pacific Mission for Migrants (APMM) wishes to thank the Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst e.V. (EED) for providing support to make this research possible. We also wish wish to thank our partners and volunteers in APMM focus areas for assisting us in collecting the valuable data for this research. Finally, we wish to thank the brave women who have lent us their time and experiences so people can better understand the condition and challenges faced by foreign brides. INTRODUCTION Since its inception in 1984,APMM’s efforts on the issue of foreign brides began by exposing marriage bureaus in the commercialization of women im/migrants from Third World countries.The Philippines then became not just one of the sources of cheap and docile labour, but also a budding shopping mall for so-called“submissive, weak, helpless” and“beautiful dream girls who are desperate,” as described in the promotional ads by a marriage service agency, Sunshine International. Back then, these women im/migrants were called “mail-order brides” or “brides for sale”. Then in 1990, APMM paid close attention and campaigned on its first case of domestic violence of a Filipino bride, Generosa Bongcodin, in Australia. Gene was murdered on July 9, 1989 by her Australian husband, who was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment in 1993. Gene’s shocking death signaled the need for a conscious effort to advocate for justice for the victims of violence committed against women migrants, including foreign brides. Her death was the 14th case of deaths and disappearance of Filipino brides in Australia since 1980. Since then, 17 other cases were documented until 2001. While APMM’s earlier efforts on foreign brides dealt on advocacy and campaign on outstanding cases of deaths and disappearances of Filipino brides who have foreign husbands, it never failed to respond to the immediate needs of foreign brides in distress, and women migrant victims of violence and trafficking. Over the years, this response has enlightened many people and brought a better understanding about the issue. Such was the need then, when the trend of labor importation and exportation was still predominantly male migrants, and the call for advocacy has just began. But the trend has changed now. Millions of Asian women are working overseas, feeding their families, and boosting the economies of their countries, by remitting billions of dollars home.Women now make up more than 75% of registered migrant workers from Indonesia, 70% from the Philippines, and 69% from Sri Lanka.1 Moreover, according to UN’s Population Division, almost half or 48.7% of thenearly 200 million international migrants in 2005 are women.2 This trend is seconded by Marcella Ballara of the Red de Educación Popular Entre Mujerers de América Latina y el Caribe (REPEM) in 2002. She noted: 1 Human Rights Watch. September 2004. 2 Global Commission for International Migration, 2005. Asia Pacific Mission for Migrants (APMM) 3 Psychosocial Profile and Perspectives of Foreign Brides “The first immigration flow was characterized by the companies’ preference for male workers. However, since male workers more often try to organize themselves in trade unions, ask for higher salaries, and also often start a family and permanently remain in the country they migrated to, the trend is changing.The second flow or migration is witness to a sharp increase in female migrant workers.”3 Hence, in order to respond to the current challenges ahead, the greater need now is to have a deeper understanding on this issue. Who are the foreign brides? Where do they come from?What are their reasons for choosing to become foreign brides? What are the processes

FAQs

Who published the research and who provided support?

The research was produced by the Asia Pacific Mission for Migrants (APMM). Support was provided by Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst e.V. (EED).

What historical advocacy does APMM describe in the introduction?

APMM recounts its efforts since 1984, including campaigning around the domestic violence case of Filipino bride Generosa Bongcodin in Australia and highlighting a series of deaths and disappearances of Filipino brides with foreign husbands.

What are the main objectives and research questions of the study?

The study aims to identify views and perspectives of women married to locals in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, and Korea, focusing on adaptation to unfamiliar situations. It also addresses origins, motivations, processes, coping mechanisms, and the role of government and community mechanisms in supporting integration and rights.

Oct 13, 2026

Upload by Valentina