Abstract

PIP: Large numbers of Indo-Fijian women are using marriage agencies and advertisements to find husband in Australia, New Zealand and Canada: this article investigates this new type of arranged marriage. Half of the Pacific island of Fiji are Indo-Fijians who are farmers, professionals, educated and prosperous, but have limited political, educational and land rights relative to the native Fijians. Some women pay $200-800 to a broker in Suva, Fiji; some read local newspaper ads and correspond with potential husbands. Most are divorced, school dropouts, unemployed or unmarriageable to peers in Fiji. Neither the women nor their families seem to object to their marrying a man who is considerably older, divorced, of another race or religion, or handicapped physically or socially. They hope to better their standard of living and procure visas for the rest of their family to migrate. Many Asian wives are specifically sought by Western men who want an exotic, docile woman for her personal service. Paradoxically, the Fijian brides have high expectations or romantic illusions, and hope to escape the servitude normal in their own families. Neither the Fijian women nor the Western men normally know or seek information about each others' cultures. Many of these marriages break down because of emotional and physical problems and unrealized expectations. The women's movement has criticized this phenomenon as exploitation of women, yet for many it is their only hope of escaping from arduous work, submission to Indo-Fijian husbands and their family, or their own family if they cannot marry or work. If their foreign marriage fails, they have the hope of more economic opportunities and a better welfare system in the new country.