Common Law

A common law marriage or Jawaz Orfy in Arabic is defined as a marriage contract between a man and a woman which is recognized by Islam, but not by the Government. It's most common among university students like myself when people are too horny to think straight. I've seen a few of my classmates drop out of college to support a child which resulted from such a marriage, or to simply run away with the "bride" to escape having to face society with the taboo of having been part of such a thing.
The difference between this and a regular teen pregnancy is that a common law marriage either results in a back alley abortion, or a forced government-recognized marriage contract signed before the pregnancy becomes visible. Either way, it's a life sentence of people talking about you behind your back, and the end of whatever normal life the child would have had.

Many people praise Common Law Marriage because it serves as an outlet for teenagers to relese pent-up frustration, and is generally theraputic, although people who hold such an opinion are a minority. Others, the overwhelming majority, claim that it is an unholy union that should be abolished because it can only do harm. In either case, the end result is always the same. The couple is always too afraid and thus abort any resulting pregnancy, the "groom" freaks out and abandons the mother of his child, who becomes devastated now that she has no one to turn to, and if the families become involved, abortion is the only concievable solution to the problem - after which they would worry about the girl's tarnished innocence and virginity, and search for a man willing to marry such a woman.

What are your views on the issue?

Here is an article about one of the most famous of these marriages, check it out if you're interested. It will provide more information on the issue in case I left anything out.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4295911.stm

"Free"

One of the many English words that have crept their way into Egyptian culture is the word "free". However, not in the meaning that the word usually implies, but a new meaning, in the minds of the Egyptian community: Liberal or Defiant of the local morals and beliefs (which I have been called many times because of what I have to say about my countries culture.)

A "free" woman can be described as follows: A woman who is not afraid to mingle with the opposite sex in and out of the work environment. Someone who does not turn red at the mention of a swearword in front of her. A woman that stays out the house alone or with friends past 7 o'clock.

These woman are considered, for the lack of a better word, infidels. Or just people who defy the norm. People who have been corrupted by western media.

However, their demand for equal rights within society does not pass this point. Hardly any women have the courage to defy their parents or question the reasons behind such beliefs, and many do not dare escape an arranged marriage.

As for marriage, it usually goes like this: A woman, "free" or not, is approached by a man frim within her college community or workplace, who then tries as hard as possible to win her over with romantic dinner behind her parents backs. Once the woman feels like her parents are beginning to notice, she asks her "boyfriend" to propose and ask for her hand in marriage. (That's usually within 3 months of their first meeting).
Another common method is for a man to see a woman he liked in the street or any other place, find out where she lives, and fo ask her father directly to marry the daughter. In most cases, the woman has a choice to marry or not to marry, yet it the more secluded societies of upper Egypt, it's not a possibility.

Hope this answered all your questions. :)