History+of+Picture+Brides

Maricella Ruvalcaba​ Imagine a life with several difficulties andhardships, being only eighten years of age with out a husband, living in Japan jobless. Afamily member arives with news of a lnely man waiting for a wife in America. Family's from both sies discuss arangments, pictures are exchaned, and now you are about to become a picture bride. In the beginning of the 1900's picture brides came to America, leaaving their home country of Japan to start a new journey. They believed America had so much more to offer than Japan could ever give. Women came to America for many reasons such as hopes of becoming rich, dreams of a romantic life in the new land and an increased possibility of independance. "After a simple shasin Kekkon, picture marriage, I went to live with my in-laws for six months. This, too, was the custom; but i was so unhappy because I had to work very hard in my in-law's home. I was like a servant; no, my life was worse than a servant's"(Okihiro). The job opportunities were endless. However these picture brides faced many hardships. Upon arrival, many brides were shocked to see their husband. Instead of a young, handsome, financially stable man there was an old man, not attractive at all who worked on a farm. The picture brides were expected to work with them on the farm. "In Hawaii between the years of 1908 and 1924 20,000 Japanese women came as picture brides. These women typically worked with their husbands in the fields and fishng communities. They were paid fifty cents for a ten hour work day(normally earning $13 a month) and were paid sixty-six percent of what men were paid"(Bentley 46). The womens arrival was the key to the foundation of the Japanese.

Works Cited Bentley, Judith. //Brides, Midwives, and Widows//. New York: Twenty-First Century, 1995. Print. "The Gentlemen's Agreement and its aftermaths-the"Picture BrideS" 17 Nov. 2005