1. HelenaKate Bennett
Datingin the 21st
Century – Middle East Perspective
Thispiece isbasedontwo interviewsundertakeninJordan,withindividualsholding highly opposing
viewson moderndating.Jordaniansare predominantlyMuslim, meaningpre-marital relationships
withno viewtoengagementcarrya large stigma. However,both feltthatcommunication
technologyandsocial mediahave contributedtoa shiftinattitudestowardshow relationships
develop.
Technology’smainrole inthischange isinfacilitatingcommunication,particularlyinremoteplaces1
,
or womenwithverystrictfamilies2
.Where inthe pastthere was little opportunitytogettoknow
someone withoutfamilyhelp,modern marriagesoccurbetweenpeople whohave metonline3
,at
workor university,oreven by chance inthe street4
.However, mostJordaniansstill prefertohonour
traditional marriage customs –questioningbyfriendsandfamilies;askingparents’permission,etc.
Althoughthe intervieweesdescribedthe processasquickernow,thisreferstoa month5
of getting
to know someone asopposedtohours.
Furthermore,althoughsocial mediaisseentoencourage ashallow focusonexternal beauty6
,
morals,educationandsocial backgroundare still considered crucial when choosingapartner.Here,
differentperspectivesmaybe due todifferencesinexpectationsformenandwomen.While
Jordaniansocietyretainsthe absoluteexpectationof female virginity7
onenteringmarriage,men
may intimate relationshipswithdivorced women,prostitutesorforeigners. Itispossible that
unmarriedmenare ledtowardsthe shallower,“instantgratification”aspectof onlinerelationships
while women are more inclinedtofocusontheirlong-termfuture.
Despite thisongoing double standard, technologydoesseemtohave givenwomenmore freedom,
bothin general andintermsof relationships.Thismaybe due to an increasedabilitytolive aprivate
life,speakingtopeople unknowntothe familywithouthavingtoleave home.However, thisisnot
necessarily considered positive8
,asitmay allow certain“redlines”tobe crossed.
Bibliography
Qtaishat,O.(2015). Interview on dating in Jordan in the21st Century.
Al-Saleh,L.(2015). Interviewon dating in Jordan in the 21st Century.
1 Qtaishat,O. (2015).
2 Al-Saleh,L. (2015).
3 Qtaishat,O. (2015).
4 Al-Saleh,L. (2015).
5 Al-Saleh,L. (2015).
6 Qtaishat,O. (2015).
7 Qtaishat,O. (2015).
8 Al-Saleh,L. (2015).