A few days ago, I was scrolling through my Facebook feed and came across a post that directly points fingers at women for being the main reason behind the rise of divorce rates in Egypt. The post claims that the day women became more independent and started to consider things other than finding Prince Charming, is the day marriage lost its holiness.
It’s true that the divorce rate has substantially increased from 1996 until now with an 83% increase according to the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS), but personally, I believe that such a generalization is just groundless because I don’t believe there is a science behind it. A “one size fits all” could never be adequate. But, since this is my very personal view I decided to delve deeper into the subject and ask strangers about their views on the matter.
Here are the answers of individuals that were asked whether independent women had anything to do with the rise of the divorce rates in Egypt.
Yasmine Abdel-Rahman (Married): In my opinion, it’s definitely interconnected since independent women started to feel more powerful; from having their own money which resulted in making them intolerable to being treated as objects, getting beat up, insulted, etc. So yeah, I think it’s very much related but women are not to be held responsible for it, men should.
Mostafa Eissa (Single): Women’s independence in Egypt is a direct result of their involvement in the labor market and their participation in the Egyptian labor force. It is a normal reaction that they do not have sufficient time to perform their socially expected household duties, especially that most of them do not get any support from their male partners. Therefore, most people tend to blame women for such a rising phenomenon, which is in the end, kind of true. However, it shouldn’t be considered something negative, women should be given the same rights as men to terminate toxic relationships.
Dina Khaled (Married): Of course, it’s related. In earlier days women were highly dependent whether on their fathers or husbands, not only financially but also in their daily activities and movements. Nowadays, women are equally participating in everything the same way as men, therefore they don’t compromise or tolerate offensive or abusive behavior anymore.
Sallam (Married): Being financially independent makes divorce a much easier step. A woman doesn’t have to worry about providing for herself and her kids. So yeah, it is somehow related as it gives women an easy ticket out of an unsuccessful marriage.
Wessam El Malky (Married): Money is by far the strongest source of power. If a marriage is being torn apart by other existing problems, a woman’s independence will generate a power struggle that usually ends with a divorce.
Nihad Fahim (Married): Independent women are more observant and stronger than the dependent ones, hence they are more aware of their needs and powerful enough to pursue them. Financial independence toughens women to leave when living with their partners becomes unbearable.
Mervat Mohamed (Married): Financial independence is the key to freedom whether for a female or a male. It’s surely related in some cases, but I don’t believe that it’s the main reason behind the high divorce rate. Yet, I believe that there is a general disruption in the dynamics of relationships, which diminished the sanctity of marriage and ended the dream of waiting for Prince Charming to fix it all.
Omar Amin (Single): My answer would be yes, and that’s not a bad thing. A stigma on divorce still lingers in our society and we need to change that and understand that it’s not necessarily a bad thing. There is actually no harm for women to be financially independent because by all means they should have as much liberty as men to end a marriage.
