NüVoices Podcast: A Conversation with Monica Liu on her book, “E-mail Order Brides Under China’s Global Rise”
Sociologist and author Monica Liu and her book, Seeking Western Men: Email-Order Brides under China’s Global Rise
They're middle-aged, divorced. Some are single parents. They're email-order brides seeking western men, hoping for better lives. I spoke with sociologist and assistant professor Monica Liu about her research and how this phenomenon challenges conventional thinking. Her new book, Seeking Western Men: Email-Order Brides under China’s Global Rise, explores global internet dating and cross-border marriages, particularly among women in China.
She discusses the grievances women in China have with society and their own failed marriages, and why some believe a better life exists through this route. But reality is often very different. She talks about "transnational business masculinity" - what it means, why it's valued, and the reality Chinese women face in these cross-border relationships. A lot of the men often have very traditional, patriarchal expectations, but for some women, it's still worth it. In her book, she wrote about women who suppressed their independence and personalities for spouses who expect them to do all the housework, even tell them what to wear, how to eat. Liu discusses the sociocultural context of their situation and the lives they had before.
Liu also says that old racial hierarchies in China dominated by white men are crumbling. However, while socioeconomic class generally trumps race for many of these women and their families, overt racism towards Black dating candidates remains prevalent.
With uncensored access to China becoming increasingly difficult or impossible for foreign researchers, Liu also discusses her own experiences on this front and what's changed since she began her research more than a decade ago.
Listen on your browser, Apple, Spotify, or Google podcasts.
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Also, ICYMI, NüVoices held a small gathering in Toronto in March with journalists, academics, and others, where we had a wide-ranging discussion on current issues relating to China and Canada, including some tips for journalists when reporting, such as sensitivity toward a source’s safety when asking questions. (For example, in live broadcasts on sensitive topics, don’t ask sources questions about their family in China. Reporters should also be mindful of word choice/tone to avoid stoking anti-Asian sentiments.) Media coverage on China-Canada issues also sparked a lively discussion on diversifying experts who can speak knowledgeably on China - a core mission of NüVoices. Read more here.