Open letter to Hisham and Luigi

Submitted by Isis (Australia), Oct 11, 2008 at 10:19

To Hisham –

Your generalised comments relating to older women having relationships with younger men are disappointing and reaching back to the 70's. Did it ever occur to you that older women are seeking and accepting the advances of younger men because the women are still vibrant, independent and beautiful inside and out despite being in their 40's and 50's? They are still adventurous and love travelling whilst they leave their middle aged partners at home in front of the television or watching sports.

They venture into the romantic Middle East and are courted by handsome young men and their whole world changes in an instant. Maybe they have found true love or maybe they haven't but the choice is still theirs to embark on that new found relationship. Initially age is not a barrier and after a while it may be but you cannot judge these types of relationships because of your own preferences. I personally know of three relationships of this nature that are going strong after 5, 6 and 7 years together and I have no doubt that there are many more. If you are comfortable with the stereotype relationship with the man being few a few years older than the woman then that is your choice but obviously not the choice of many others across the cultures.

I have personally noted that Egyptian culture is not forward thinking and quite staid. Egyptians are generally reluctant to accept new ideas and move with the times. This is why so many western women have problems adjusting to the Egyptian culture as the west has moved on and Egypt has stood still in many facets – ie women working, studying, travelling and even their attire. Christian women in Egypt still dress as the west did in the 50's. As much as I love Egypt I see this as a bigger problem in the mixed culture relationships than age differences.

To Luigi –

Another comment that relates back to the 70's regarding the status of divorced women. Again, we are in the 21^st century not the 19^th. Divorced women are no different from any other women. They are mature, intelligent women in the prime of their lives that have had a failed relationship and you seek to condemn them. You say you are only 26 Luigi but your thought processes are those of someone with not much connection to the modern world. Your comments that divorced women need sex and affection more than others is puzzling and am I right to assume that you also believe that divorced men need more sex and affection too?

Get with it guys – its 2008 not 1978. If you want your advice to women on this forum to taken seriously then you need to need to adapt your attitudes to today,

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