The Economist: Western men are going abroad to find traditional wives
The Economist did a bit about passport bros. You need a subscription to read it, but the main points are (summarised using AI):
- Western Dating Exit: Men are leaving Western dating markets because they believe the system is "broken" and feel mistreated by women in their home countries.
- Pursuit of Tradition: They use social media to identify countries where women are perceived to be more "traditional," "feminine," and "compliant".
- Economic Leverage: Remote work and digital-nomad visas allow these men to use Western salaries to easily support a traditional single-income household in cheaper foreign markets.
- Power Dynamics: Critics raise concerns about exploitation*, noting that the vast income gap between the men and their partners creates "disproportionate levels of power"*
None of these points are new. The main thing I took away is that even highly established news mediums like The Economist are now reporting on this trend, which means the dating difficulty for men in the west is very real. Whenever I've spoken to others who aren't dating (due to having families, or already being married), they tend to point to things I personally should work on or personal attributes that need changing, rather than acknowledging (at least to some degree) a wider systemic issue in society. I don't see the increasing trend of men moving abroad as just more men wanting to engage in sex tourism... I think men are moving abroad because they have no choice. They want romance, but simply can't find it in the West.
Its very frustrating that many western women don't see the issue here. Ultimately, women are the 'selectors' and the fact that less people are successfully coupling up in the West, means less women are selecting men.
And it's not like I've haven't tried... I've really really tried to adjust to what I've been told women like... including having much to offer financially... but yet I've still failed. I really don't want to leave my country and job (especially in this economy) in search for romance... but I also want my own family... so I don't have much of a choice. I don't have siblings and my parents are very old and could pass away in the coming years... I am scared of being all alone. I was even thinking about my will last night (I don't hope to die soon, but was wondering what would happen to my assets should I pass), and I literally could not think of anyone I'd pass my assets to...
I hope a woman reads this and at least acknowledges that there are men out there who are really trying their best to be a good partner, but for whatever reason, they are still not being accepted by women.
Just needed to vent tonight... feeling particularly defeated.