ABSTRACT
Feminist Review No 39. Winter 1991
One of the best-read German newspapers published an interview with Mr WB, owner of a marriage bureau, in which Mr WB praises the ‘goods’ he has on offer for his potential clients, German men: a Polish wife (to be) for only 390DM. The client is free to select four among some 1,500 photos. For each he gets to know as much as her WEIGHT and AGE, sometimes accompanied by attributes like ‘super sexy’ or ‘extremely full bosom’. He can try them out, and even make another selection of four. If HE is not satisfied SHE goes back to Poland. WB's speciality was South East Asian women but he is now switching to Poles for whom there is a growing demand, especially among retired, divorced and not directly well-off men. No German woman would take them—but for Poles they are good enough. Besides, ‘Poles are cheaper than Asians both in terms of capital investment and in maintenance: what is a cheap train ticket in comparison to a 5,000 DM air ticket from Bangkok or Manila? And, whereas a Thai is unprepared for cold German winters—one has to buy her clothes—a Pole brings her own boots and a fur coat. And she is as good in bed and industrious in the kitchen’. (Bild, 9 January 1991)
