Cosmetics are a huge business here in Saudi Arabia. Historically, culturally, and religiously, a female in Saudi Arabia had only one chance to make a good impression on a potential suitor - and it has always been largely based on physical appearance alone. When I first met my husband many years ago and I was learning about his culture, I remember asking his friends what was the most important thing they would look for in their future mate. All of them, without fail, said physical beauty. I would say, well what if the woman is not so smart or a real bee-yotch - and they would that didn't matter at all. Arranged marriages are still pretty normal here, but many families are allowing the couple to get to know one another better before they marry now.
LINKING TO - SIGNS
5 comments:
...strange to my mind!
I always had the impression that a guy's short list of requirements in a mate could be overridded by his female relatives. In a gender-segregated society with arranged marriages, a guy's mother, grandmother, aunts, and other female relatives often do some of the initial vetting of potential brides, and they aren't going to recommend a pretty girl who has no other redeeming qualities, unless there are extenuating circumstances to justify the marriage.
I don’t know what to say...
That makes more sense.
Hi Anonymous - Ultimately the decision should still be up to the man and woman, even in arranged marriages, although that's not always the way it happens depending on the family. I'm pretty sure that even in this day and age, the main requirements for a man looking for a wife would be, in this order: 1-Physical Beauty; 2-That she is a good Muslim; 3-From a good family; 4-Education on parr or less than the man
Post a Comment