Marrying a taiwanese vietnamese women and cross border marriage networks in the mekong river delta region

Copyright by TIEN A TRAN 2007 All Rights Reserved MARRYING “A TAIWANESE”: VIETNAMESE WOMEN AND INTER-MARRIAGE NETWORKS IN THE MEKONG RIVER DELTA REGION An Abstract of a Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Arts Tien A Tran University of Northern Iowa July 2007 ABSTRACT Cross-border marriage between Vietnamese women and Taiwanese men has become a controversial topic in Vietnam since the 1990s In the Mekong Delta, the popular perception is that young Vietnamese women marry Taiwanese husbands as a way for many families to improve their lives and escape from poverty In this thesis I examine the role that families’ socioeconomic background and social networks have on fostering cross-nativity marriages The analysis is focused on the role that marital agencies (marriage brokers) and kinship networks play as social organizations that facilitate these marriages The analysis is based on a governmental survey of households (n=635) produced by the Committee for Population, Family, and Children in Vietnam Results confirm that Vietnamese families’ poverty level is the major factor predicting these crossnativity marriages Furthermore, results show the effect of social networks on the family’s socio-economic status and cross-border marriage as well: the lower the family’s socio-economic status the more usage of for-profit marital intermediaries, like brokers Number of daughters married to Taiwanese men also predicted the likelihood that crossnativity marriages are fostered by the forms of intermediary informal social organizations such as kinship and friendships vis-a-vis marital agencies Thus, empirical evidence is provided that behind the usage of marriage brokers there are powerful economic motives as well as presence and/or absence of specific forms of social capital Key words: cross-border marriage, social network MARRYING “A TAIWANESE”: VIETNAMESE WOMEN AND CROSS-BORDER MARRIAGE NETWORKS IN THE MEKONG RIVER DELTA REGION A Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Arts Tien A Tran University of Northern Iowa July 2007 ii This Study by: Tien A Tran Entitled: Marrying “A Taiwanese”: Vietnamese Women and Cross-Border Marriage Networks in the Mekong River Delta Region has been approved as meeting the thesis requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts Date Dr Xavier Escandell, Chair, Thesis Committee Date Dr B Keith Crew, Thesis Committee Member Date Dr Kristin Mack, Thesis Committee Member Date Dr Sue A Joseph, Interim Dean, Graduate College iii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I would like to acknowledge the contributions of my committee members to this study Without the guidance and support from Dr Xavier Escandell, Dr B Keith Crew, and Dr Kristin Mack, this thesis would not have come to finish I would like to thank the Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Criminology and the Graduate College of the University of Northern Iowa that created good academic environment to conduct this thesis to completion In addition, I would like to extend my appreciation to my family, colleagues, and friends who helped me through graduate school and the process of writing this thesis iv TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE LIST OF TABLES vii LIST OF FIGURES ix CHAPTER INTRODUCTION .1 Research Issue Context Research Questions and Significance of the Study CHAPTER THEORETICAL INFLUENCES Theories of Intermarriage: Push and Pull .8 Theory of International Migration 10 Social Network: Positive and Negative Aspects of Social Capital .15 Review of Empirical Studies in the Asian Context .18 International Marriage in Micro, Meso, and Macro Perspectives .18 Recent Studies on Vietnam-Taiwan Cross-Border Marriage 23 CHAPTER INTERMARRIAGE IN THE VIETNAM CONTEXT 27 Economic Change and Increasing Cross-Border Ties 27 A Brief Overview of Vietnam Context 27 Economic Change and Increasing Cross-Border Ties 29 The Mekong River Delta and the Reality of Cross-Border Marriages .30 Economic, Cultural, and Social Conditions of the Region 30 The Reality of Cross-Border Marriages in the Research Areas 31 v Initial Assessments 35 CHAPTER METHODOLOGY 40 Data .40 Purposes and Contents of the 2004 CPFC Survey 40 Sampling Procedure 40 Hypotheses of the Study 42 Operationalization of the Variables 44 Elaboration Model in Chapter 44 Elaboration Model in Chapter 47 Data Description 49 CHAPTER CROSS-BORDER MARRIAGES AND FAMILY’ S ECONOMIC STATUS 58 Determinants of Taiwan-Vietnam Marriage .58 Economic Improvement and Remittances 62 Perceived Economic Change 64 Summary .67 CHAPTER CROSS-BORDER MARRIAGES AND SOCIAL NETWORKS 79 Formation of Cross-Border Marriage Networks 79 Roles of Cross-Border Marriage Networks 81 Summary .87 CHAPTER SUMMARY AND IMPLICATIONS 94 Summary .94 Implications 98 vi Limitations and Further Study 100 REFERENCES .103 APPENDIX A: HOUSEHOLD QUESTIONNAIRE .109 APPENDIX B: STATISTICAL DESCRIPTIONS 124 vii LIST OF TABLES TABLE PAGE 3.1 Provinces Having the Highest Number of Residency Visas to Taiwan for Vietnamese Female Migrants in 2003 37 3.2 Number of Cross-Border Marriages between Vietnamese Women and Foreigner as well as Taiwanese Men 38 4.1 The Number of Vietnamese Women Who Married Taiwanese Men in the Mekong River Delta Provinces in 2003 4.2 Research Areas and Respondent’s Information 4.3 51 52 Comparison of Marital Age between Vietnamese Brides and Taiwanese grooms 53 5.1 Sex Ratio (Male/Female) in Six Provinces from 1999 to 2003 69 5.2 Knowledge of Cross-Border Marriages in the Community and the Family’s Perceptions within the Cross-Border Marriages 70 The Percentage of the Self-Reported Perception of Family’s Economic Status before Cross-Border Marriage within the Research Areas 71 5.3 5.4 Occupation and Income of Vietnamese Women before Marriage 72 5.5 73 Cross-Border Marriage Motivations and Marriage Procedure 5.6 Remittances and Perceived Economic Change through Cross-Border Marriage 74 5.7 Cross-Border Marriage and Economic Factors 75 5.8 The Relationship between Perceived Having Family’s Economic Change with Expected Economic Improvement and Marriage Motivations 76 5.9 Logistic Regression Coefficients Showing the Logged Odds of a Family Perceived Economic Change after the Daughter Married a Taiwanese Man 77 The Percentage of Intermediate Types for Cross-Border Marriages 89 6.2 For-Profit Marriage Agencies versus Non-Profit Marriage Intermediaries 90 6.1 118 36 Why could not she meet? The groom did not want to meet……… …1 It did not require in the matchmaker contract…… …2 It was not necessary …3 Other reasons…… …4 ………………………………………………………………………… 37 What did the brokers direct you to in the process of this marriage? 38 How was your daughter’s wedding held? The wedding was not held …1 The wedding was held with Vietnamese traditional ritual …2 The wedding was held with the grom’s traditional ritual …3 Others …… …4 PART V - INFORMATION OF THE SON – IN – LAW In this part, I would like to ask the information about the Taiwanese man at that time he married your daughter 39 How old was he? …… … 40 When did you meet the groom? Before wedding …1 At wedding…… …2 After wedding.…………………………………………………… …3 119 41 Did you know clearly about the groom before wedding day? Knew clearly …1 Knew a liitle…… …2 Did not know …3 42 If know, how did you know? (can choose more than one answer) From daughter …1 From introducers, brokers…………… …2 From the groom …3 From others… …4 43 What was his occupation? ……………………………………………………………………… …… 44 How was his health? Healthy… ………… …1 Normal …………… …2 Disable………… ……… …3 45 Did he get married before? Never…… …1 Married… …2 Divorced/ Widowed……… …3 Don’t know… …4 PART VI - INFORMATION OF THE DAUGHTER AFTER MARRYING TO TAIWANESE MAN In this part, I would like to ask the information about your daughter’s life after marrying to Taiwanese man 120 46 Where has she lived? In Vietnam…………………………………………………… …1 In overseas…………………………………………………… …2 47 Who does she live with? With husband in abroad ………… …1 With husband in Vietnam …………………………………… …2 With step-husband in Vietnam ……………………………… …3 Others ……………………………………………………… …4 48 Does she also live with her parents-in-law? Yes …………………………………………………………… …1 No …….……………………………………………………… …2 49 Why does she not live with her parents-in-law? ………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………… 50 What does she now in Taiwan? (choose the main job) Housewife… …1 Worker ……….……… …2 Farmer, handicraft …… …3 Seller… …4 Servicer………………………………………………………… …5 Others…… …6 51 Does she have a part-time job? ………………………………………………………………………… 52 How many hours does she work per day? …… … 121 53 Does she often communicate with neighbors? Yes …1 No … …2 If not, why? 54 Does she have any inconvenience in communicating with neighbors? Very inconvenient …1 Convinient sometimes…………………… …2 No any inconvenient …3 Don’t know …4 55 Did you receive an amount of money as well as the gifts before or right after your daughter’s wedding? Yes ………………………………………………………… …1 No…… …………………………………………………… …2 56 If money, how much? …… … If gifts, what were they? …………………………………………………………………… 57 Have they sent you any money after wedding up to now? Yes………………………………………………………… …1 …2 No………………………………………………………… 58 If yes, how much money have they sent on average per month? ………………………………………………………… …… 122 PART VII: FAMILY CONTACT 59 How long after wedding did your daughter contact with family? At that month…….…………………………………………… …1 About months………………………………………………… …2 About 12 months…………………………………………… …3 After one year……………………………………………… …4 Never………………………………………………………… …5 60 Does she often contact family now? Rarely ……………………………………………… …1 Sometimes……………………………………………………… …2 Usually……….………………………………………………… …3 Never…………………………………………………………… …4 61 If not, you know why she has not contacted family? 62 How does she contact family? (can choose more than one answer) Send mail ……………………………………… …1 Make phone call ……………………………………… …2 Send e-mail………………………………………… …3 Others…………………………………………………… …4 63 I n the past months, how many times does she contact family? ……………………………………………… …… … 123 PART VIII: INFORMATION OF WOMEN’S CURRENT MARITAL STATUS (for women who went back Vietnam) 64 How long did she live with husband until leaving to go home? Year Month …………………… 65 What did you think when she left her Taiwanese husband? ………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………… 66 How did surrounding people reflect when your daughter(s) left her husband? Strongly objection Strongly advocating Kinships Neighbors Local authorities What did they say? …………………………………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………………… 67 How is her health now? Better …1 Normal …2 Worse …3 Thank you for your cooperation! 124 APPENDIX B STATISTICAL DESCRIPTIONS Percent Self-reported perception of family's economic status before having cross-border marriage Very poor Poor Middle Upper middle Self-reported perception of family's current economic status Very poor Poor Middle Upper middle Rich 19.8 41.1 30.1 8.3 Perceived economic change (yes=1) 1.1 8.2 42.8 37.5 10.4 71.8 Expected economic change (yes=1) 81.4 Economic motivation (yes=1) 85.0 For-profit marital agencies (yes=1) 33.8 Daughters made the wedding decision (yes=1) 40.5 Parents made the wedding decision (yes=1) 33.7 Whole family made the wedding decision (yes=1) 23.9 Marrying to Taiwanese men in community A lot A few None Don’t know Know about the groom before the wedding Very well A little Not at all 81.1 14.8 2.7 1.4 47.2 35.4 17.4 125 (Table continued) Percent Family’s occupational sector Agriculture (yes=1) Unclassified (yes=1) Unemployment (yes=1) 56.4 17.3 8.9 The occupation before marriage Farmer, miscellaneous labor, and unemployment (yes=1) 44.9 The attitude of kinships The attitude of local authorities Number of daughters Mean (SD) 4.07 (.978) 3.87 (.939) 3.02 (1.453) Min 1 Max 5 10 Number of daughters married overseas 1.23 (.455) Age at marriage 21.65 (3.188) 16 39 Years of bride’s education 6.74 (2.621) 15 The average income of daughters before marriage (US dollar) 16.59 (19.60) 158 The age of year of the groom 34.72 (5.81) 20 56 72.23 (114.90) 1,080 889.34 (1,424.33) 19,231 126.74 (157.75) 994 The period of time from introduction to wedding (days) The amount of money receiving before and right after the wedding (US dollar) The remittances (US dollar) Source: Survey 635 households Conducted by the Department of Sociology of the USSH 04/2004 Figure 4.3: Analytical Model of Predicting the Perceived Family’s Economic Change and Showing the Expected Outcome Effects Independent variables Daughter married abroad (More than one = 1) Remittances Expected family’s economic improvement + H1b Bride’s age Bride’s education + H1a Control Variables Economic motivation Dependent variables Decision maker: Daughter (reference) Father and mother Whole family For-profit marital agencies + H2a+b + H3 Perceived family’s positively economic change Figure 4.4: Analytical Model of Predicting the Usage of For-Profit Marital Agencies and Showing the Expected Outcome Effects Independent variables Self-reported family’s economic status (Poor =1) Family’s occupational activity Expected family’s economic improvement + H4a Control Variables Parents’ education Dependent variables Daughter married abroad (More than one = 1) H4b Using for-profit marital agency Bride’s education Bride’s age H4c + Decision maker: Daughter (reference) Father and mother Whole family H4d Table 3.2: Number of Cross-Border Marriages between Vietnamese Women and Foreigner as well as Taiwanese Men Year Province 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 Total Foreigner Taiwanese Foreigner Taiwanese Foreigner Taiwanese Foreigner Taiwanese Foreigner Taiwanese Can Tho 1,119 % Dong Thap 1,105 604 % % 1,242 381 243 899 215 46.4 1,140 710 848 701 1,686 276 53.8 3,071 1,573 1,065 862 977 679 875 255 53.0 884 1,909 716 657 81.8 402 80.5 481 3,383 90.5 80.9 843 2,817 91.7 0.9 82.7 513 2,610 94.9 79.0 61.5 463 2,751 0.9 63.1 395 Tien Giang 903 2,502 92.0 81.7 % An Giang 2,720 90.0 % Vinh Long 1,007 245 640 60.9 556 254 45.7 421 3,165 13,044 93.6 92.4 1,756 6,919 92.0 89.9 467 4,100 71.1 75.2 448 3,128 70.0 71.1 183 2,434 43.5 48.5 Source: Statistic data recorded from Department of Justice in Can Tho, Dong Thap, Vinh Long, An Giang, Tien Giang, 04/2004 Table 5.9: Logistic Regression Coefficients Showing the Logged Odds of a Family Perceived Economic Change after the Daughter Married a Taiwanese Man Model Constant Model Model Model 760 (2.139) 618 (1.856) 616 (1.851) -.928 (0.395) 954** (2.596) 939** (2.558) 940** (2.560) 917** (2.501) 002* (1.002) 002* (1.002) 002* (1.002) 002* (1.002) 004 (1.004) 004 (1.004) 024 (1.025) 648* (1.912) 648* (1.912) 665* (1.945) - - - 006 (1.006) -.006 (0.994) Daughters married abroad: More than one =1 Remittances ($) Decision maker: Father and mother (yes=1) Whole family (yes=1) Daughter (reference category) For-profit marital agencies (yes=1) Economic motivation (yes=1) 664 (1.942) Expected family’s economic improvement (yes=1) 498 (1.645) (Table 5.9 continued) Model Model Model Model Bride’s age 024 (1.024) Bride’s education -2 Log likelihood Pseudo R2 Degree of freedom (df) -.005 (0.995) 516.293a 510.505a 504.504a 505.186a 050 068 068 083 Source: Survey 635 households Conducted by the Department of Sociology of the USSH 04/2004 * = p< 05 ** = p< 01 a Parameter estimates changed by less than 001 Table 6.4: Logistic Regression Coefficients Showing the Logged Odds of Choosing For-Profit Agencies within the CrossBorder Marriages Constant Self-reported family’s economic status: Model Model Model Model Model -.904(0.405) 189 (1.209) 191 (1.210) 324 (1.383) 1.996 (7.360) 554** (1.741) 500* (1.648) 500* (1.649) 506* (1.658) 501* (1.651) -.481* (0.618) -.481* (0.618) -.477* (0.621) -.490* (0.612) -.144** (0.866) -.144** (0.866) -.139** (0.870) -.143** (0.867) -.006 (0.994) -.016 (0.984) -.069 (0.933) 005 (1.005) -.001 (0.999) -.034 (0.966) - - - Poor =1 Daughters married abroad: More than one =1 Bride’s education Decision maker: Father and mother (yes=1) Whole family (yes=1) Daughters (reference category) (Table 6.4 continued) Model Model Model Model Model Elementary or less =1 -.016 (0.984) 005(1.005) Family’s occupational activity Agriculture (yes=1) -.265 (0.767) -.252 (0.778) Unclassified (yes=1) -.107 (0.899) -.186 (0.831) 169 (1.184) 271 (1.311) - - Parents’ education: Unemployment (yes=1) Small trade (reference category) Expected family’s economic improvement (yes=1) 008 (1.008) Bride’s age -2 Log likelihood Pseudo R2 -.076* (0.927) 627.322a 608.877a 608.875a 606.861a 601.884a 021 072 072 077 090 11 Degree of freedom (df) Source: Survey 635 households Conducted by the Department of Sociology of the USSH 04/2004 * = p< 05 ** = p< 01 a Parameter estimates changed by less than 001