Internet Couples

Media comment and academic writing on internet relationships have promoted negative stereotypes of the men and women involved in these relationships. This type of courtship is seen to be different than what is seen as 'normal' courtship and the women are often derogatorily described as so called 'mail-order brides'.

Our study on the other hand will focus on the women and men themselves, their motivations, how they met their partner on the internet, and how their relationship developed. Our research indicates that couples meet in many different ways e.g. online intro, chatting, specific interest forums, religious or hobby website, bulletin boards, introduction through family and friends.

This Department of Anthropology study will also draw on recent innovative studies of internet relationships and critically analyse the media's commentaries and stereotyping. The research will contribute to our understanding of a number of significant contemporary social issues:

• Gender relations and their connection to marriage, family life and divorce
• Filipino-Australia and Indonesian-Australian families
• Immigration policy and multiculturalism
• Our understanding of relationships formed on the Internet