Seeking Western Men

Monica Liu is Assistant Professor in the Department of Justice and Society Studies at the University of St. Thomas.

• Introduction1. Why Do Chinese Women Seek Western Men?2. Provider Love3. Transnational Business Masculinity4. Embracing Domesticity5. Body of a Woman, Fate of a Man6. Surrogate Dating: Translators behind the ScreensEpilogue

"Seeking Western Men shows how vicissitudes of global economy can be registered in the relative value of men and women seeking relationships. Liu's masterful analysis shows readers how to rethink gender, race, and class within a rapidly changing world order."—Eileen Otis, author of Markets and Bodies "This engaging ethnography dismantles common assumptions about the motives of female marriage migrants and the transnational appeal of both Western masculinity and Western feminism. Rather, we learn about evolving Chinese feminisms that deviate from Western models, as Chinese women pursue transnational marriages exercising their own sexual agency."—James Farrar, author of Opening Up "[Seeking Western Men] is an interdisciplinary study that spans sociology, anthropology, and gender studies. I highly recommend it to students, researchers, and general readers interested in the areas of transnational migration, marriage and family, masculinity, and Chinese and Western cultures. Through a geopolitical and feminist lens, this book provides valuable insights into the power dynamics between Asian women and Western men. It enriches the existing body of research on marriage migration in Asia by offering a wealth of rich ethnographic data."—Hsunhui Tseng, H-Asia "Liu's investigation is more than a case study of Chinese international dating. It is an earnest effort to understand the sociological processes and psychological realities that have provoked a reawakening in Chinese women as sexual and romantic beings who want and expect a more fulfilling life, which includes having a satisfying marriage with either a Chinese man of sufficient social standing or, if not, with a Western provider. Monica Liu's study offers an insightful peek into the sociological processes responsible for this psychological awakening. It is ethnography as it should be."—William Jakowiak, Nan Nü "This book provides the most detailed empirical examination of the international dating industry in China and how ideas of race, class, and gender are shifting within the globalizing economy, providing an important contribution to sociological literature about the international dating industry and ideas of intimacy within post-reform China."—Julia Meszaros, Social Forces "Seeking Western Men: Email-Order Brides under China's Global Rise offers important insights into the complex world of email-order brides. Using feminist lenses from both the West and China, Liu's engaging and accessible writing provides a glimpse of international marriages and the challenges facing women in contemporary China. The book makes significant contributions to the field of gender and migration studies. I highly recommend the book to anyone who is interested in learning more about this phenomenon."—Shan-Jan Sarah Liu, Journal of Asian Studies "This brilliant ethnography—which is a very accessible read—is rich in narratives. It is an excellent example that shows how individuals are both products of broader socioeconomic and cultural transformations and agents who struggle in everyday life against different institutional constraints to maximize their own interests under globalization. This important empirical work provides salient contributions to the literature on international dating and marriage."—Travis Kong, American Journal of Sociology