Daytime Marriages

According to a marriage officiant, Dr. Ahmed AlMa’abi, two new types of marriage has surfaced in Jeddah. It’s becoming a trend for widows and divorcees over 45 to marry men in their early twenties. Older women are seeking physically built men who can satisfy their emotional needs.  AlMa’abi has high hopes that such marriages will bring down the divorce rate in the Kingdom, which has reached to 60 percent among couple from the same age group.

The second NEW type of marriage is referred to as “daytime marriage”, where the couple meets during the day time.  The husbands are usually business men or high rank officials, who want to keep the marriage a secret from the first wife, while the brides have night-time jobs.  This type of marriages, according to the officiant, is legal and Islamic.

Saudi Woman in Scrubs

It’s been said that a picture is worth a thousand words. Add to the caption: Saudi nurse, and you have another few hundred words.

Though this is not a piece of news, nor is it the first time that a local Saudi newspaper features a cover  story or photo of a Saudi nurse, but it’s refreshing to  be reminded that society is moving , even if one step at a time..

The story also becomes more valuable when it is about  a Saudi female in a field that is still looked down on in Saudi Arabia.

Today’s  headline reads:  Saudi Nurse’s 15 Year Old Dream Comes True and Scrubs in the Conjoined Twin Operation.

The above photo is of Nurse Muslaha AlShareef  with Dr. AlRabia’a in the OR at King Abdul Aziz Medical City in Riyadh. Nurse, AlShareef , however, works at King Abdulaziz Hospital & Oncology Centre in Jeddah.

Unfortunately, aside from the name, city, hospital, and the occupation nothing else is mentioned about the nurse.

In case you are wondering: the operation was a success and the Iraqi twins, Roqaya and Zainab are doing great.

http://www.alriyadh.com/2010/07/20/article545206.html

Misyar com: A New Step for Women in Saudi Arts.

 This is a unique piece of news.

Last night, in the city of Najran, a new mark was achieved for women in Saudi Arabia.

An all female cast, for an all female audience, took the stage at the chamber of commerce’s auditorium to perform the play: Misyar com.

The main theme of the hour and a half long comedy is to expose the modern type of marriages, such as misyar and misyaf, in the Kingdom and blames both men and women for the spread of these marriages .

The play is part of a program organized by the Ministry of Culture and Information to celebrate the week of culture.

Before Najran, the play had two night in Riyadh and one in Abha.

Officially, this is the first recognized play by women and for women.  However,  there have been previous plays such as the one woman  play in Jeddah: Head Over Heals in Saudi Arabia. It also dealt with issues of marriage in divorce in the Kingdom.

Very short background about Misyar marriage: It is a marriage contract whereby the wife gives up many of her rights. The couple lives in separate houses and the husband does not have to support his wife. The name Misyaf Marriage suggests marriage during the summer time.  Many belive such marriage are degrading to women and thus should be stopped from spreading any further.

The play is directed by Amal Al Hussein and the main cast members are: Sarah A- Jabir, Nadeen Halawni, Raja Al-Hadi, Rivan Kana’an, and Shua’a Tawfik.

http://www.okaz.com.sa/new/Issues/20100718/Con20100718362202.htm

http://www.news-sa.com/home.html