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THE PICTURE BRIDES

1905 – 1924

In the early twentieth century, thousands of Japanese and Korean picture brides moved to Hawaii and the west coast of the United States. The term "picture bride" comes from the fact that one member of the soon-to-be couple would select the other from a photograph.  There were numerous reasons why these women chose the fate of a picture bride: they often satisfied social pressures and familial obligations, while others had economic incentives to help their families. When it comes to Korean pictures brides in particular, many sought to escape Japanese occupation that began in 1905. 

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Chai, A. Y. (1979). “Mrs. K.”: Oral History of a Korean Picture Bride. Women’s Studies Newsletter, 7(4), 10–13. http://www.jstor.org/stable/25159510

Chai, A. Y. (1988). Women’s History in Public: “Picture Brides” of Hawaii. Women’s Studies Quarterly, 16(1/2), 51–62. http://www.jstor.org/stable/40003801

Kim, J. (2020). Korean Pioneer Women: Picture Brides and the Formation of Upwardly Mobile Korean Families in California, 1910s-1930s. Korea Journal, 60(1), 207-238. https://kj.accesson.kr/assets/pdf/8515/journal-60-1-207.pdf

Kang, K. (2011). Picture Brides’ in Hawaii Backed Korea’s independence. The Korea Times. https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2022/01/113_95014.html

Oh, Y. (2017). Korean Picture Brides in Hawaii: Historical and Literary Narratives. Journal of Literature and Art Studies, 7(12), 1632-1644. doi: 10.17265/2159-5836/2017.12.016

Picture brides and Japanese immigration. New York Historical Society: Women & the American Story. https://wams.nyhistory.org/modernizing-america/xenophobia-and-racism/picture-brides-and-japanese-immigration/#resource

Simpson, K. (2012, July 31). Japanese picture brides: Building a family through photographs. KCET. https://www.kcet.org/shows/departures/japanese-picture-brides-building-a-family-through-photographs

TIMELINE OF EVENTS

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Korean Laborers in Hawaii

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The Picture 

Brides

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Japan's Comfort Women

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The War Brides

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KoreanWar

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The

Refugee

Relief Act

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Immigration and Nationality Act

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Korean

Diaspora

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COVID-19 Anti-Asian Sentiment

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