摘要：“Migrant Brides” refers to a growing group of Asian women1 fromdeveloping countries who migrate to marry. Migrant Brides are able to settlein Singapore only by virtue of their marriages to Singapore citizens. Theytypically lack the education and income levels required to migrate into Singaporethrough more conventional routes. Since the purpose of their migrationis purely to fulfill reproductive and familial roles, they are essentializedas “Brides.” Not every woman who migrates to Singapore through marriageis a “Migrant Bride.”2 Singapore’s immigration policies create a hierarchy ofinternational marriages “characterized by their relative potential contributions(especially economic) to Singapore, ease of social integration, and theirperceived likely demand on the public welfare system.”3 Legitimization (through the granting of permanent status or citizenship) of a marital union between a Singapore citizen and a non-Singaporean is conditioned on the foreign spouse’s potential productivity, or on the Singaporean spouse’s ability to provide for them.
