The FINANCIAL — Interracial marriage is on the rise in Georgia, according to statistics of the civil registry.
The FINANCIAL — Interracial marriage is on the rise in Georgia, according to statistics of the civil registry. Latest data shows that more Georgian women get married to foreign men than the other way round.
1,941 mixed marriages were registered in Georgia in 2012. 2,788 mixed marriages were registered in 2011 which is 57 percent higher than the previous year’s data.
988 Georgian women were married to foreign men and 864 foreign women got married to Georgian men. As for different countries’ citizens, 89 couples registered their marriages in Georgia this year.
Georgian men and women mainly marry Russians compared to other foreign nationals. 388 Georgian women married Russian men in 2012 and 495 Georgian men married Russian women. Compared to last year’s data it is obvious that more and more Georgians are choosing Russians to be their spouses. 1,107 marriages between Russians and Georgians were registered in 2010 which is 69 percent higher than the year 2009’s data.
After Russia comes Armenia in terms of the biggest number of marriages between Georgian men and foreign women. 92 Georgian men married Armenian women this year.
The statistic of Georgian men’s marriages to other countries’ citizens is as follows: 56 marriages to Ukrainian women; 48 – to Azerbaijani women; 28 – to American women; 24 – German women; 11 – Israeli women; 9 – Latvian, Uzbek and Cossack women; 7 – Lithuanian women; 4 – British, French, Swedish and Moldovan women; 3 – Belorussian, Estonian, Canadian and Kirgiz women; 2 – Turkish, Turkmen and Czech women.
As for Georgian women getting married to foreign men, after Russia another of the biggest number of mixed marriages is those registered married to Turkish men. 174 Georgian women married Turkish men; 114 – Greek men; 36 – American men; 33 – German men; 30 – Azerbaijani men; 19 – British men; 18 – Armenian men; 17 – Iranian men; 16 – Ukrainian men; 15 – Indian men; 14 – Italian men; 12 – French men; 11 – Israeli men; 6 – to Australian, Lithuanian and Nigerian men; 5 – to Bangladeshi, Egyptian, Canadian, and Latvian men; 4 – to Pakistani and Syrian men; 3 – to Afghan, Albanian, Spanish, Swedish and Norwegian men; 2 – to Belgian, Bulgarian, Estonian, Dutch, Polish, Cossack and Chinese men.
Economists and psychologists have differing opinions about why interracial marriages are on the rise in Georgia. While economists claim that this is a result of globalization and open borders, psychologist Marina Gogsadze believes that interracial marriages are due to different psychological factors.
“Based on my own experience, I can say that Georgian girls often deliberately try to find a foreign husband,” said Marina Gogsadze, psychologist. “We see that statistically, more Georgian women get married to foreign men than the other way round. Women have two motives: material wellbeing and psychological trauma. This trauma is a result of past relationships with Georgian men. The women think that they will find relief in a marriage with a foreign man. Another factor in interracial marriages in Georgia is that some Georgians believe they can start another, wealthier life married to a foreigner. They buy in to the illusion that marriage with a foreigner will solve their economic problems,” she added.
Discussing marriages in economic terms shows that living alone is much more expensive than living with a spouse, according to different economic aspects. Economists claim that living together with a spouse reduces expenses. However in the case of interracial marriages the contrary happens – marriage increases expenditures for the couple.
“In general, living with a spouse is much more cost-saving than living alone,” said Maka Chitanava, economist, research associate at ISET (International School of Economics at Tbilisi State University). “According to the economics of love and marriage, a couple try not to make risky decisions. They are afraid of making an incorrect decision which might harm their partner. This caution generally leads to making the right decisions, increasing their income and finally improving their economic conditions. Also, husband and wife are dividing all the expenses, such as utility fees, food, petrol and other daily expenses. So, living together reduces expenses in general,” Chitinava added.
“In terms of interracial marriages though, expenses are increasing. An obvious example is visiting the parents or family of a husband/wife, which requires additional expenses. When two people with wholly different values get married, then this also tends to increase a couple’s daily expenditures,” said Chitanava.
“The marriage market has become larger. Individuals can choose their mates on a large and more competitive market. Because of globalization it is very easy to find a kindred spirit in today’s world. And I imagine that more Georgians will be having interracial marriages with western European and American citizens in the future,” she added.
A mixed marriage is the marriage of two individuals from different races or religions. As Georgians often marry Russians, Armenians and Turkish people it means that these social groups are more close to Georgians than other ones, demographics believe.
“Statistics show that Georgians often marry Russians. In this case a crucial factor is that the religion is the same between Georgians and Russians,” said Tsiuri Antadze, demographic, independent expert.
“In most cases it is the mother’s nationality that determines the character and values of her son or daughter. That is why attention should be paid to the nationality of the woman Georgian men get married to. The reason why many Georgians tend to marry Russians is that Russia is close to our country in cultural terms. And in addition, a lot of Russians live in Georgia,” said Tsiuri Antadze, independent expert.
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