In Egypt - Why these relationships don't work and why they can work

Submitted by Isis (Egypt), Jul 25, 2009 at 00:54

The current status started hundreds of years ago with the evolution of the middle eastern culture. The intoduction of Islam to Egypt after Christianity meant that their lives were dictated by the Q'ran. The Q'ran stated that men must look after women because they were weaker and needed protection from other men. The women were then covered to protect themselves from themselves.The men in the culture became all powerful and women are looked after by being confined to domestic duties, breeding heirs, and generally looking after men.

In Egypt, men could (and still can) have up to 4 wives if they were not satisfied with the first, second or third wives. This has bred the male characteristic of power over women. In essence, they see woman as a chattel and a possession. Egyptian women are taught chastity from birth and are kept within the confines of the family home until marriage to a suitable husband is found. The marriage then takes place quickly and the new wife settles into another round of domesticity, breeding and servitude to her husband.

Along come western women with money, sexual experience and a free will. This is exciting for these sexually repressed men who have a sexually naive woman home in the village with the entire family living a day to day existence. Western women are the way to a better life and so it goes.

The only way that these relationships WILL work is if the Egyptian man is educated and higher up the social ladder. He will need to have experience in the western world and be comfortable with a western lifestyle and religion. The western woman will need to understand the concept of "culture", Islam, Egyptian Islamic law and relationships under these laws in Egypt. The western woman will need to be accepting of the value of "family" in Egyptian culture and be accepting of Islam in the lives of Egyptians.

Everyone on this blog is warned continually about venturing into a relationship with Egyptian men in tourist locations (guides, waiters, reception staff, taxi/coach drivers) and those met on the internet. They are "boys" looking for a better life whether it be with you or another naive foreign woman. The internet cafes are full of these young men "talking" to western women online while their young wives wait for them at home. (Silly you - I have seen it with my own eyes!)

You will find many good Egyptian men but they will be tertiary educated and professionally employed, don't live in villages and have travelled and understand the western lifestyle and culture. The Egyptian man of your dreams won't be waiting outside a train station, serving you drinks in the hotel dining room or supplying towels around the pool.He also won't be sitting in an internet cafe scolling for his next challenge.

Ma Salaama

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