For
years, International Marriage Services had to live with the stigma of
being referred to as Mail Order Bride services. However, many consider
the term "mail-order bride" derogatory and feel it demeans foreign
women by comparing them to commodities for sale and falsely implying
that (unlike local women), they exercise no judgment over the men they
meet and would marry anyone from a relatively wealthy country. Even with
the foreign women being labeled as mail order brides these companies
have grown in popularity for the past two decades, largely due to the
internet. The industry grew at such a fast pace it caught the
attention of the US senator Maria Cantwell of Washington State, who in
2006 she pushed a bill through congress known as IMBRA or
International Marriage Brokers Regulation Act. Although the intent of
Senator Cantwell was clearly meant to put Foreign Bride Companies out of
business by severely restricting how men communicate with foreign
women. In the end, the companies flourished under the new regulations
as these business quickly modified their business models.
Kenneth
Agee, marketing Director for A Foreign Affair one of the largest so
called Mail Order Bride Companies says, "We have always had to overcome
this label. Since Trump announced his candidacy for president of the
United States, the industry saw a significant increase in upscale
business men looking for foreign brides. Once he became president, Trump
made it the new status symbol of success to be married to an eastern
European women. With First Lady Melanie Trump in the White House,
opinions about foreign women have dramatically changed. Once men were
scorned upon to be married to a women from Russian or the Ukraine, now
is seen as prestigious. And we are seeing huge increase of men seeking
foreign brides, our client base is up by more than 200% since Trump has
taken office. This month alone we will be taking over 100 American men
to the Ukraine, mostly very successful executives." Beside online
matchmaking, the company arranges group tours for men that will travel
to countries throughout the world. During these tours the men will meet
hundreds of pre-screened women during what A Foreign Affair calls
"Social Events" or what Kenneth calls speed dating on steroids.
Critics
say these women are just used as arm trophies for business men in
America. That men take advantage of the women's circumstances, both
economical and geographical. Kenneth argues, "I would hardly say
Melanie Trump has been taken advantage of or refer her to as a Mail
Order Bride. Women choose just like the men choose, we are all adults
and are responsible for our own choices. It is just that men in America
have a good reputation for the way we treat women and how we take care
of our families. This opens the door to the men to meet some of the most
beautiful women in the world."
Trump
is not the only high profile person to marry a foreign women, Jeb Bush
met his wife in Mexico. Rupert Murdoch former CEO of Fox News married
Wendi Deng from China, and the list goes on.
If Trump accomplishes nothing else during his presidency he has clearly helped one Industry.
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