Last night I had the (insert moan here) pleasure of attending yet another wedding. Wedding season has just refused to end this year. Not only am I fed up with having to stress over wearing a dress that:
a) Is considered appropriate, which is impossible to gauge if you don’t know who’s invited;
b) Hasn’t been seen to recently by those invited; and
c) Insert debasing comment regarding my weight here,
but I cannot believe the diminishing ages of the brides and grooms. We’ve returned to playing ‘Wedding’ in our elementary school playgrounds.
Although I’m a staunch proponent of marriage, I cannot understand the current Egyptian trend of marrying straight out of university.
I believe graduation ushers entry into the real world, and thus, adulthood. But funnily enough, Egyptian society seems to believe adulthood is not marked by university and then entry into the real world, but instead that process is merely a tool used to gain access to the real ‘real’ world – marriage. Why is marriage the only truth or acceptable path?
Why is it no respected when one chooses career or personal growth over such an institution – one irreparably marred in our society? Marriage is no longer a happy union but a necessity; a new age debutante ball for the couple, introducing them as eligible, veritable adults worthy of membership in society.
Otherwise, no matter what you do, or how old you are, or how successful you become, you’re still a child living under the care and protection of your parents.
Care to ‘splain, anyone?
14 years ago
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3 comments:
Well put, Old Hag ;)
I understand where you're coming from but I wonder if the average age of marriage in Egypt is truly diminishing. It definitely has done so in the US though. As for why society does not consider you truly responsible for yourself until marriage, there are various explanations ranging from a need to control sexuality, to the collectivism which is inherent to Egyptian society and its need to place you within a group or family unit. Interesting topic, we should discuss. The politics of the dress do suck.
I understand the collectivist/controlling nature of society. I guess my discord lies in the fact that it is so constricting, even in the upper classes. More exasperating is how women face this problem much more than men. If a man is successful but unmarried, it isn't as big a deal as if a women is unmarried. Regardless of her success. The fact that this is how society is structured shouldn't excuse the attitude.
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