When it comes to love and relationships, Arab girls have mastered the art of secrecy like no other, honed by years of evading the prying eyes of nosey relatives who would seize any opportunity to air out your business on the family WhatsApp group chat. In our culture, familial expectations and reputation hold significant weight, and striking a delicate balance between matters of tradition and of the heart requires an unparalleled level of finesse, especially when you have strict or overprotective parents. Thus, discretion becomes not just a preference, but a whole survival instinct. While the notion of forbidden love may seem straight out of a Disney movie for many, for Arab girls, the reality is far from a fairytale. Below, 10 dating struggles only Arab girls can truly relate to. Trigger warning: We apologize in advance for the war flashbacks this list could potentially cause.<\/p>\n
Changing his contact name to a girl\u2019s name on your phone <\/strong> You can never ever post him or your relationship on the \u2018Gram. <\/strong> Making your secret boyfriend park two streets away when he\u2019s picking you up or dropping you off<\/strong> Dating him for five years before he dumps you and marries his cousin<\/strong> That mini heart attack you have when you\u2019re out together and you see a car that\u2019s identical to your parents\u2019 vehicle <\/strong> Talking to him behind locked doors underneath the covers and in a hushed tone <\/strong> Having to act like you\u2019re not utterly devastated and heartbroken around your family after a breakup<\/strong> Choosing the most off-beat, random spots to go on dates to avoid accidentally running into your older brothers or uncles<\/strong> Throwing your flowers in the bin\u00a0<\/strong> Pretending like you\u2019ve never seen him in your entire life when he decides to finally ask for your hand<\/strong>
\nAs far as anyone is concerned, it\u2019s Fatima who\u2019s blowing up your phone.<\/p>\n
\nNo soft launches for you. You will just pop out on your Instagram Story randomly married one day.<\/p>\n
\nOr pretending he\u2019s an Uber driver.<\/p>\n
\nThis is how you end up in life-long therapy.<\/p>\n
\nWe suggest exclusively dating men who have tinted windows.<\/p>\n
\nThose heated, whispering arguments hit differently<\/a>.<\/p>\n
\nSmiling on the outside; shaking, screaming, throwing up on the inside.<\/p>\n
\nIt’s not your fault that your dad’s cousin’s best friend’s uncle owns that new sushi spot that just opened up. Look at the bright side\u2014 at least you’re out in public together for once instead of having another car date<\/a>.<\/p>\n
\nBecause if you take them into the house you will get interrogated endlessly about who they\u2019re from.<\/p>\n
\n“I hate to say it, I hope I don\u2019t sound ridiculous, I don\u2019t know who this man is. I mean, he could be walking down the street, and I wouldn\u2019t know a thing. Sorry to this man” \u2014 Keke Palmer, 2019<\/p>\n