Editing Mail-order bride (section)

==International marriage agencies==
An international marriage agency (also called an international introduction agency or international marriage broker) is a business that endeavors to introduce men and women of different countries for the purpose of marriage, [[dating]], or [[Pen pal|correspondence]]. Many of these marriage agencies are based near women in developing countries (such as Colombia, China, Thailand, and the Philippines).<ref>{{cite book |title=Introduction to Gender: Social Science Perspectives |last1=Marchbank |first1=Dr. Jennifer |last2=Letherby |first2=Prof. Gayle |date=2007 |pages=194–195 |publisher=Pearson Longman |isbn=978-1405858441}}</ref> International marriage agencies encourage women to register for their services, and facilitate communication and meetings with men from developed regions of Europe, North America, Japan, South Korea, and Australia.<ref>Paragraph 14 [http://www.aila.org/content/default.aspx?bc=1016|6715|16871|17119|13775 International matchmaking Organizations: A Report to Congress] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140803040117/http://www.aila.org/content/default.aspx?bc=1016%7C6715%7C16871%7C17119%7C13775 |date=3 August 2014 }}</ref> This network of smaller international marriage agencies is often affiliated with web-based international dating sites that are able to market their services on a larger scale, in compliance with regulations such as the [[International Marriage Broker Regulation Act]].<ref>IMBRA law: [http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=109_cong_public_laws&docid=f:publ162.109.pdf Violence Against Women and Department Of Justice Reauthorization Act of 2005] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101203073115/http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=109_cong_public_laws&docid=f:publ162.109.pdf |date=3 December 2010 }}</ref> Experian, a market research firm, reports that the top 10 international dating sites attracted 12 million visitors in March 2013, up 29% from March 2012.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tech.fortune.cnn.com/2013/04/09/the-mail-order-bride-boom/?iid=SF_F_River|title=The Mail Order Bride Boom|date=9 April 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131225083057/http://tech.fortune.cnn.com/2013/04/09/the-mail-order-bride-boom/?iid=SF_F_River|archive-date=25 December 2013|access-date=11 April 2013}}</ref> International dating sites provide a wide variety of online communication, including instant messaging, email letters, webchat, phone translation, virtual gifts, live games, and mobile-based chat.<ref>Level of Services (paragraph 13) [http://www.aila.org/content/default.aspx?bc=1016|6715|16871|17119|13775 International matchmaking Agencies: A Report to Congress] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140803040117/http://www.aila.org/content/default.aspx?bc=1016%7C6715%7C16871%7C17119%7C13775 |date=3 August 2014 }}</ref><ref>Ukrainian Mail Order Brides (AskMen): [http://www.askmen.com/entertainment/better_look/10_ukrainian-mail-order-brides-part-1.html Ukrainian Mail Order Brides] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110803195837/http://www.askmen.com/entertainment/better_look/10_ukrainian-mail-order-brides-part-1.html |date=3 August 2011 }}</ref> International marriage agencies are frequently referred to as "mail-order bride" agencies. However, many consider the term "mail-order bride" derogatory and feel it demeans foreign women by comparing them to commodities for sale and by falsely implying that (unlike local women), they exercise no judgment over the men they meet and would marry anyone from a relatively wealthy country.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://mail-order-bride.com/|title=Best Mail Order Brides Services|editor=Dani Gartenberg|website=Mail-order-bride.com|language=en}}</ref>

Services offered by marriage agencies typically include:
*Offering a catalog with verified women's profiles
*Introductions
*Platform for communication and interaction
*Translation of correspondence between clients not speaking a common language
*Excursions, in which a man is introduced to several women interested in marriage <ref>{{cite web
|url=https://medium.com/foreign-wife-finder/mail-order-brides-for-those-looking-for-love-abroad-b6e19c328739
|title=Mail Order Brides for Those Looking for Love Abroad
|date=31 January 2024
|author=Lauren Welch
|website=medium.com
|access-date=2024-08-22
}}</ref>