MAIL ORDER BRIDES flee from their own men
For their part, the women waiting to become American mail order brides say they not only want a way out of poverty but husbands who are looking for partners, not servants. And they see Americans as prime husband material compared with the men in their home countries. The Competition. "The worst drunk in the United States would be a social drinker in Russia -- the really lucky Russian women have a husband that comes home sober twice a week," said Nora Lazareff, a co-owner of the Los-Angeles based Family International, which specializes in connections with Russian women from the former Soviet Union. To stay competitive, she said, her agency screens Russian women, signing up only those who are "physically truly beautiful," well-educated and speak fluent English. Most agencies find potential mail order brides by advertising in foreign publications.
Men find mail order brides through advertisements
Men also turn to the marriage brokers after seeing advertisements. They buy one or more catalogues, which run between $5 and $59 and contain photographs and biographies of foreign mail order brides. Then they purchase the women's addresses, usually for about $10. Most men buy in large quantities, and the purveyors of marital bliss suggest that volume is the key to finding a match. Most prospective bridegrooms find that modern technology is also a useful romantic aid: they frequently use word processors, sending the same letter to dozens of hopeful mail order brides. For most male clients, that's as far as the flirtation goes, long-distance love being an excellent way to avoid the quotidian pitfalls of closer-range relationships.
