Brides for Sale

Summary:

direct order brides suffer silently

Website:

http://www.maryknoll.org/voices

Additional Credits and Funding:

Host Eileen Bott

Tones:

Delicate, Fresh Air-ish

Language:

English

Description:

Voices of Our World
Program 0530
Air date: Week of July 24, 2005


Part One: BRIDES FOR SALE: For $15,000 anyone can buy a woman and “get married.” Trafficked or enslaved women suffer silently, carrying the shame of having been sold, fearing their husband’s whims and the threat of immediate deportation if they do not obey. With no family and friends, little command of the local language and no knowledge of their rights, few know where to turn for help. Elinoar Astrinsky speaks with Maryknoll Sister, Giang Nguyen, who created a support network for Vietnamese direct order brides in Taiwan.

OPTIONAL CUTAWAY CUE: “You’re listening to Voices of Our World” at 14:00.

Part Two: BRIDES FOR SALE, NOT JUST IN TAIWAN: The mail order bride industry took off in the late 60’s as demand for submissive women rose. Today, the direct order bride industry is booming! Thousands of websites offer young, demure, obedient brides from abroad. Billions are exchanged as authorities turn a blind eye to organized crime’s unregulated industry. Marriage is legal after all. We continue our discussion with Maryknoll Sister, Giang Nguyen, about the discrimination and abuse that direct order brides endure and how we can help create laws to protect them. One nation at a time.


  

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