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Egyptian marriage is simply a business transaction. 95% of all marriages in Egypt are based on Islamic traditions which values a negotiated marriage contract between two families.
What’s love got to do with it?
Egyptian blogger and newly minted novelist, Ghada Abdelaal, has a few words to say about the process:
“Girls are not supposed to be actively seeking something, a girl simply exists for someone to marry or divorce her,” says the author of the top-selling book, Ghada Abdelaal. “To say she wants something is seen as impolite.”
Of course, it should be noted that Egyptian marriage is further complicated based on class and family status.
Her rantings about having strange and unsuitable men parade through her home as possible mates were first launched on her blog, wanna-b-a-bride (arabic), and then printed in book form:
She says her target is not Egyptian men but a tradition known as “gawwaz el-salonat” (living room marriage), where a stranger is brought to the family home and the daughter must decide whether to marry him on the basis of this brief encounter.
“People who go for a picnic need to know each other a little longer than that - let alone make a lifelong commitment.”
The book’s popularity - it is in its third print run with a sitcom in the offing - reflects a widespread anxiety in Egyptian society.
In Abdelaal’s example, I think she’s got a case of the “Western Ideological Blues”, or, WIB as I like to say. Egypt should be praised as the most forward thinking Arab nation in the Middle East based on their relatively equal treatment of women (the key word here is RELATIVELY) and also as an Israeli ally.
I contribute the WIB effect to the ever increasing “leak” of western ideology into Egyptian society. And for women like Abdelaal, once golden western ideas start to seep into your life, it’s hard to continue accepting old traditions.
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