Cheng, Kelsey | Chiu, Czarine

Chapter 1 I. Background of the Study e United States and the Philippines have had a long standing relationship throughout history. America gave the Philippines a sense of direction and purpose in living a systematic and civilized lifestyle, enforcing their ethics. With United States imperialism, the Americans left an indelible mark in the Philippines such that ties created between the two nations exert enormous in uence on the lives of the Filipinos. erefore Filipinos de nitely considered America to be a place for them to migrate to. A major cause of Filipino migration to the US prior to WWII has been the US colonization of the Philippines from 1898 onwards (Gallagher, 2004); this lead to the result of many Filipinas marrying American militants who were assigned in the Philippines. e War Brides Act permitting World War IIs Filipino servicemen from American Units to freely migrate to the United States including their dependents. ey were subjected to medical examinations, in cases of disabilities the Immigration and Naturalization Service would notify the public medical ocer of the local community. eir classi cation would be a nonquota immigrant. Temporary absence would be allowed readmission to the United States regardless of the disability or disabilities that existed at the time of the rst entry. ey didnt apply any ne or penalty for transportation into the United States. With this easy route for migration, Filipinas were encouraged to move abroad. Not only in the United States has taken the interest but also other neighboring countries, speci cally Japan. Of course the Japanese also has in uence in the Philippines from WWII and during the time of the Marcos

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regime. Beginning in the late 1970s and into the 1980s, the range and numbers of bars employing women to serve and entertain customers expanded. As the Japanese economy grew in the 1970s and 1980s, young Japanese women began to move into pink-and white collar work. (Faier, 2011.) To replace those Japanese women, many Filipinas were hired to take the paid jobs of hostess in bars with the purpose of serving and entertaining mostly men. Before migrating for work in Japan many women undergo a procedure in training in singing, dancing, and language. Although, some of these women will not even work in a Japanese environment, rather they would be located at a US military base catering to American men. (Camagay, 2011.) ese women are the rst to be victims of exploitation and tracking. Sent to work in pubs and clubs to entertain Japanese or American customers, reports regarding the exchange of sexual services and the undeniable existence of prostitution led to a stained image of the Filipina entertainer as exchanging money for sexual favors granted to customers. (Camagay, 2011.) Ironically, the same conditions occurred in their native land in pubs and bars. During the 1980s, whereby one could visit an open-air pub in Manila and be confronted with about 400 young girls, mostly students, soliciting foreigners. (Matthews, 2010.) ese young girls were looked upon as objects for sale, where the tourists were able to fantasize and day-dream into intense pleasures. By observing the modern day society there is a presentation of Filipinas who would prefer foreign men regardless of age and physical appearance. is sets o a stereotyping to the Filipinas interest that they are either gold diggers or looking for love. Technology today plays a role in interaction between foreign men and Filipinas. Certain websites have created an easier way to connect and by posting pictures and web chatting they create a relationship

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with men from other countries. ese websites may create a mold of the image of the Filipina to be desperate, easy, and submissive. In addition, Filipinas are known as hospitable, faithful and honest, combined with subservience and are willing to undertake any paid work. (Matthews,2010.) Because they are known to be willing to work for anything they are easily exploited in the trade of sex. ey are gullible and easily taken advantage of leading them to the apparent desperation. e country they come from, is known for its human sacri ce and mail-order brides, re ects on the high number of women going through desperation to make ends meet. As more Filipinas continue these motives and have interest in only looking for these speci c men, with one cause of being a key way out of poverty, this causes delay to their own progress in gender equality in their own society. ey continue to destroy their own image with the use of modern technology. With a simple Google search of the words Filipino and Women results immediately list several websites connected to mail order brides, sexual websites, and images showing their bodies and exposing themselves. Unlike when typing words such as American Women results display history, associations, and political groups. is shows the dierence between the progresses of women in both societies. e Philippines number one in Asia for cybersex, and is more a supplier than a consumer. (Matthews, 2010.) With this status, the country faces harsh stereotyping of their women. e problem lies within the Filipinas themselves as they destroy their own image and stall their own progress in respect as women. As a result, Filipinas today carry out an image of selling themselves. e mens perception aects the Filipina because they in a way

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set the boundaries for opportunities. Giving a limited standard to what Filipinas can do with their lives professionally, or socially. 1.1. Problem Statement How has the search and need to nd an American partner place the Filipina into danger? 1.1.1. Sub-Questions 1. How has the acceptance of the American culture transformed the mind-set of the Filipina? 2. What causes the Filipina to favor foreign men over their own? 3. How has the Filipinas intentions and actions lead to the consequences of degrading their own image? 4. What are the perks and bene ts of being married to a foreign man? 5. How has the Filipinas intentions and actions lead to the consequences of instigating sexual risk? 1.2. Objectives ese objectives are to show that the intentions and aspirations Filipinas seek through foreign man actually degrades their image as women to society, particularly domestically. 1. To bring awareness to the local society implementing womens image. 2. To advocate a better image for Filipinas 3. To gain respect from foreigners, especially todays national interest 4. To change the perspective of foreigners

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5. For progress in gender equality 1.3. Signi cance of the Study is study would be to expand the knowledge of not only cultural diversity between Filipinos and Americans but can be comparable to other races or cultures. 1. e signi cance of the study would be to insert interest in the gender role of Filipina women. 2. is study would explain why foreign men have a distinct perception of Filipinas and their morality. 3. It would show awareness and advocate how the image created and molded by the Filipina gives constant scrutiny to their gender role in their own society. 4. is study would help serve as a factor for the Filipinas to protect their gender image and hopefully their race. 5. is study also would be signi cant for other International Study students who want to explore the relationship between Filipinos and foreigners. 1.4. Scope and Limitations e researchers scope would be targeted to middle class or poverty-driven Filipinas, ages bounding from 16 years old to 50 years old. e researchers would like to explore the reasoning behind the motives of the younger women compared to the older and their speci c interest or what they nd in foreign men. e researchers would like to focus on how poverty is one of the factors in driving the Filipinas to sell themselves. e location of this study is only limited to factors involved included in the Philippine and American setting.

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Bibliography Amilbangsa, L. & et al. (1998). Halfway rough e Circle: e Lives of Eight Filipino Women Survivors of Prostitution and Tracking. Womens Education, Development, Productivity and Research Organization (WEDPRO), Inc. Brainard, C.M. (1991). Philippine Woman in America. New Day Publishers. Quezon City. Torres, A. (1995). e Filipino Woman in Focus. e UP Oce of Research Coordination in cooperation with the UP Press. Bangkok, ailand. Camagay, M. (2011). More Pinay an We Admit: e Social Construction of the Filipina. Vibal Foundation. Faier, L. (2011). Intimate Encounters: Filipina Women and the Remaking of Rural Japan. Ateneo de Manila University Press. Gallagher, C. (2004). Rethinking the Color Line: Readings in Race and Ethnicity. McGraw Hill Inc. Mathews, P. (2010). Asian Cam Models: Digital Virtual Virgin Prostitutes. Girae Books. Quezon City. Miralao, V. (2004). Filipino Youth in Special High Schools. UNESCO National Commission of the Philippines. Montiel, C. & Hollnsteiner, M. (1976). e Filipino Women: Her Role and Status in Philippine Society. Ateneo de Manila University. Santiago, L. Q. (2007). Sexuality and the Filipina. e University of the Philippines Press. Diliman, Quezon City. Warren, J. F. (2009). Pirates, Prostitutes & Pullers: Explorations in the Ethno- and Social History of Southeast Asia. New Day Publishers. Quezon City.