Why are Thai women in the UK still dealing with the consequences of outdated stereotypes? Heritage investigates how casual racism in Britain is affecting women and holding us all back. 

Try googling ‘Thai woman’ and ‘the UK’—chances are, the top results include dating sites asking, ‘Seeking Thai Ladies?’ and articles like ‘Pros and Cons of Marrying a Thai Woman’. 

The assumption that Thai women in the UK are in relationships with white, often older men, is widespread. While of course these relationships exist and undoubtedly are sometimes exploitative (which is a separate conversation), the issue is how this perception overshadows the many Thai women who come to the UK to work, run businesses, and build their lives. 

We spoke with Mayuree, who goes by May. She grew up in Phuket, Thailand, and came to Manchester almost 15 years ago to work in her family’s grocery shop. 

“I moved to the UK when I was 19 with my parents and my brother to open a Thai food shop. It was not easy; my parents didn’t speak much English, so we had to help with everything.” 

May was aware of the stereotype before she moved to the UK. 

“Before I came here, I knew about farangs—white men who came to Thailand for relationships with the women. We would joke about this. There is an assumption here that Thai women with white husbands are in it for money or a better life, not love.” 

She told us that she faced this prejudice herself.

“My husband is also Thai, but people have assumed I am here as I married a British man. I know it usually is not meant badly, but I find it annoying that people would not think I came here for any other reason than marriage. We have worked hard to have a life here and make our shop successful.” 

These sweeping generalisations downplay the hard work and contributions of Thai women in this country. 

“Of course, there are Thai women here married to British men, but we are all individuals; everyone has their reasons why they would move here.” 

“I just hope people will not assume things about me because of where I’m from.” 

These preconceptions are damaging to women like May, but also to Asian women who are in loving relationships with white men. 

A study at the University of Sunderland revealed that Southeast Asian women living in England with British men felt discriminated against due to assumptions that they had previously worked in the sex trade or had come to England as a ‘mail-order bride’. 

The ‘Oxford Study’ is the new ‘Mail-order Bride’ 

The Western idea of the ‘mail-order bride’ is fuelled by both the media and online conversations. This harmful trope fetishises Asian women, reducing them to passive figures in their relationship, suggesting they are in it for financial gain. 

In recent months, the term ‘Oxford study’ has gone viral on TikTok, often appearing in comment sections under videos of Asian women with white men. It refers to a 2010 article (that isn’t related to Oxford University) titled The New Suzie Wong: Normative Assumptions of White Male and Asian Female Relationship.. 

Ironically, the article itself critiques how the media has shaped stereotypes of these interracial relationships, highlighting how TV and film have contributed to the fetishisation of Asian women.

However, the term ‘Oxford Study’ has been taken out of context and is being used as a snarky remark by online trolls to ridicule and discredit Asian women and their motivations for being with a white man. 

TikTokker Kaila Wenn received this comment under videos of her and her fiancé. 

“It strips Asian Women of their autonomy and comes across as obsessed with preserving culture. This comment blames women for the decline in homogeneous relationships,” Wenn explained. 

While interracial relationships in general do seem to face more pressure than same-race relationships, it seems that Asian women with white men are faced with an exceptionally high level of scrutiny. Especially when users can hide under the guise of anonymity on social media. 

The ‘Oxford study’ comments are not a passing meme, they’re a reminder of how widespread casual racism remains; it is a new coat of paint on the same prejudices. From the ‘mail-order bride’ stereotype to jibes in TikTok comment sections, the message is the same: Asian women in interracial relationships must justify themselves in ways others don’t. These outdated narratives need to be challenged, and we should be asking why they persist– and who benefits from keeping them alive.