This is a crude list of what I consider makes dating, sex and relationships difficult in islamic middle eastern countries. This is not meant to attack Muslims, Islam, middle easterners or anybody, rather it's simply an observation of the problems which make dating, relationships, sex, and marriage difficult for people who live in Islamic countries of middle east.
- Women don't agree with premarital sex as they know almost no man would marry them if he knows they are not a virgin. Although women might have anal sex before marriage as it doesn't remove their physical virginity so their future husband won't find out they had sex before. Also sex before marriage is illegal.
- Hijab makes it more difficult for men to see how a girl looks except her face. Most young women don't like to wear hijabs but not wearing it is illegal.
- Public display of affection is illegal, even holding hands.
- There are no clubs or pubs, so when looking for a date in public, you have to look elsewhere e.g. shopping malls, street, and places like that.
- It's much less acceptable to hit on girls who have guy friends around as they might be her SO and if so, they get angry and might result in a fight. Also some guy friends which are not her SO also get offended for some reason. If she's with her mom it's easier as many moms are fine with you approaching their daughter.
- Living together without marriage is illegal, and socially unacceptable.
- Approaching girls in cafes is not common and might be inappropriate
- Many guys lie to girls about their intentions so they can have sex.
- Women don't have the right to divorce unless the couple agree on that and sign a contract before marriage which gives them the right.
- Economical difficulties make dating harder, as you have less money and less of what you can do together
- Lack of experience(not living together before marriage, not having sex before marriage, etc). results in more unsatisfied married couples.
- Getting a divorce is frowned upon especially for women and divorced women are viewed as non-virgins who are available sexually. Some people see them as sort of a prostitute.
- Sex work is also illegal but is prevalent although there are only female sex workers.
- Many guys limit the freedom of their wife including the choice of clothes, going out without them etc. to an extent.
- Women need written permission by their father if they're not married and by their husband if they're married, in order to get their passport but men don't need it.
- It's required legally for women to have sex with their husband if he demands.
- Although, women are powerful in relationships and don't accept many of the limitations and find a way around them. Many guys are respectful to their wife. E.g. many husbands don't even dare to mention the legal requirement for their wife to accept having sex with them.
- Dating is still very common but with all the limitations. Also premarital sex is being done but only if the girl is beyond sure that her SO is going to marry her, or forms of sex that don't remove physical virginity, or with sex workers, or with divorced women which is not a problem but disrespectful to them to be viewed like that.
- Economical difficulties make it very hard to have an independent life for most men and even more so for women as they get paid less and it's frowned upon for them to live by themselves.
- Genders are sperated until college, preventing girls and guys to understand the other gender. Public transportation is similar, it generally creates a sense of unfamiliarity and divide between men and women. Also it implies that while men and women are attracted to each other, they must stay separated because although sexual or romantic interest is immoral, people are also inherently immoral and can't control themselves.
- Basically the only available way of life for is to work hard, find a date to marry her, spend a couple of months or more to know each other but without living with each other and maybe without having sex, then a traditional proposal which includes the parents meeting and then to move together. There are exceptions but they are not common. For example friends with benefits, casual relationships, nightlife including clubs or pubs, and generally more playful forms of living is not available for anybody.
- Some of these are getting better e.g. Hijab but very, very slowly, will take decades.
- In general if guys were more open minded many of these limitations for women wouldn't exist, e.g. men try to convince/pressure their SO to cover herself e.g. to wear hijab, so that her hair, or body, etc. won't attract other guys' attention.
Of course all of these may be different in different countries but more or less these have roots in the governmental interpretation of Islam and also the traditional culture and mindset of Middle Eastern people which at least tolerates muslim-based way of governing if not enforces it.
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