Economies of Gender: Masculinity, "Mail Order Brides," and Women's Labor (Politics of Marriage and Gender: Global Issues in Local Contexts)

Meszaros, Julia H.

ISBN 10: 1978842783 / ISBN 13: 9781978842786

Published by Rutgers University Press, 2025

About this Item

Seller Inventory # V9781978842786

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Economies of Gender: Masculinity, "Mail Order Brides," and Women's Labor (Politics of Marriage and Gender: Global Issues in Local Contexts)
• Publisher: Rutgers University Press
• Publication Date: 2025
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1978842783
• ISBN 13: 9781978842786
• Binding: Hardcover
• Condition: New

About this title

Synopsis

Economies of Gender: Masculinity, "Mail Order Brides," and Women's Labor offers a provocative exploration of the international dating industry, challenging simplistic narratives of human trafficking and scams while shedding light on the economic dynamics of gender. Through twelve years of fieldwork, the book delves into the motivations and experiences of men who seek relationships abroad, driven by dissatisfaction with Western women who, they believe, no longer embody traditional femininity. By examining romantic tourism hotspots such as Ukraine, Colombia, and the Philippines, Economies of Gender reveals how these international settings serve as "intimate frontiers," where men seek to extract femininity capital and bolster their status. It illuminates the often-unseen economic underpinnings of relationships and questions how global gender dynamics shape desires, fantasies, and intimate markets. Through its compelling analysis, the book broadens the conversation on gender, power, and the commodification of intimacy in a globalized world.

About the Author

JULIA H. MESZAROS is an associate professor of sociology at East Texas A&M University.