Arab American Dating Can At Times Be Complicated

By Peter Ellis


Starting a relationship can be very exciting but sometimes it is not permitted. This is fairly common among middle eastern cultures. Some communities don't perceive it the same way as others do. Arab American Dating can be very difficult for some people as according to their traditions it is frowned upon.

In America, going out on a date is seen as a normal part of growing up. The culture and acceptance of taking your girlfriend out on a date is seen as a positive thing to do. However, in the Arab culture going on a date is mostly frowned upon and seen as a shameful act against their family. Mostly because of what Hollywood has made it out to look like. The teenagers are always seem having sex on the first date as their goal.

In their culture boys have more freedom than girls do. Girls are not treated the same and can't do the same things as boys are allowed to do. Many people regard this behavior as being sexist against woman. Many families feel that they are not being sexist but just protecting their daughters and their reputations.

Hollywood has depicted dating where single people participate in premarital sex. These types of relations are not constant and usually indicate that partners are not fully committed to one person. Most of the time they can't stay in a relationship for long and they go from one relationship to the next.

Arab families are always concerned that their daughters finds themselves with an unplanned pregnancy. Families who have sons don't seem to worry about their sons having premarital sex and are usually the ones supplying condoms their sons. However, if the family has a daughter who would like to have premarital sex, her parents prohibit it.

In their culture you will find that they do treat their daughters a lot stricter than their sons. If their son comes to their parents and asked to go to a party they have no problem. When the daughter comes to the parents to ask if she can attend a party, the parents will interrogate her. Who will be there? What are you going to do there? She will be told she isn't allowed to drink there and will need to be home early.

In their community dating is just not an option. The families insist that their children need to first focus on getting their education done and then they can get married. When getting involved in a relationship while at university this could be a huge distraction and is not permitted. Family counselors within the community come around to families and educate them on the dangers of letting your children date.

Arranged marriages are the traditions of their culture and if they have been found in a relationship before they have been given a wife, they will be shamed within their community. Some of the younger generations view are changing and moving away from this type of traditions. American Arab Dating is starting grow within their community and being a lot more accepted than in the past.




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