Mail-Ordered Brides vs. Chinese Cyber-Matched Brides: Myths and Realities

International marriage between foreign women and American men, in which both parties engage in the process of correspondence through the internet and marry as a result of online dating, has rapidly flourished in the recent years. Are these cyber-matched brides (CMBs) similar to immigrant women, previously labeled as “mail-ordered-brides,” who were often the victims of spouse abuse? Using Chinese CMBs as a sample and the method of in-depth interview, this project explores four specific domains: (a) the demographic background of Chinese CMBs and their partners; (b) the unique situations and life experiences of their marriages; (c) the process of relational conflicts and their coping strategies; and (d) the explanations of their motivations, feelings, behaviors, and changes in their relationships. The study contributes to the literature by clarifying the myths about foreign brides as sex slaves and domestic servants, and American grooms as exploiters and abusers.