Saudi Gazette/Okaz report on a dark current running within Saudi society: violence, both physical and psychological. While domestic violence against men is largely underreported around the world, I’m a bit shocked to find that over 50% of Saudi men (at least those in this study) report being the victims of violence. Admittedly, much of the violence comes not from their wives, but their wives brothers, but that’s still an amazing percentage.
This is an area, I think, in which King Abdullah’s ‘National Dialogues’ could serve a useful purpose. Getting people to talk about their feelings instead of acting on them can only be useful to society.
Half of married get abuse from wives and families
Abdullah Al-DaniJEDDAH – While domestic abuse of women by their husbands is a commonly documented social problem, a study revealed that 57 percent of married men say they themselves have been subject to “revenge violence” on the part of their wives’ brothers.
The study, which was released last week by the Roy’ah Center for Social Studies and covered almost all regions of the Kingdom, showed that most male spouses subject to attacks from brothers-in-law were aged between 20 and 29.
A further 33 percent of married males questioned revealed that they had been subject to violence from their offspring, with most of those expressing such a complaint were between ages 45 and 49 years.
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December:10:2009 - 10:55
Violence from wive’s brother can be explained (though not justified) as a revenge taken if the wife complains to her brother about her husband. But violence from offsprings is absolutely shameful and shows a perverted mentality.
December:10:2009 - 11:41
Too bad I don’t have any brothers!
But I got a mother like no other.
I agree people need to learn how to communicate better. I could hold a workshop on it at King Abdullah’s National Dialogue Place. It’s real close by…
Like I have said in the beginning as long as beating is allowed MEN ARE FAIR GAME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have not become a shoe throwere living in the Kingdom. I bite my lip and meditate. OhMMMMMMMMMMM
December:14:2009 - 05:31
I agree that violence is prevalent in Saudi society. Although I don’t condone violence, a beat down of the husband by brothers does make him think twice before laying a finger on her again.
On a similar note, regarding Saudis and violence, I twice have been attacked while driving for no reason during the six years I lived in Jeddah. The attacks were totally unprovoked and were for no apparent reason. Fortunately the attackers fared worse than I did. After dishing out a respectable beating to two of them, I asked them, “Why?”. He and his friend said, “We were bored and wanted some excitement.”
What he said, made some sense. A bunch of bored and sexually frustrated young men with no outlet for their testosterone driven rage are sure to strike out. When someone mistreats their sister, they are presented with the perfect excuse to beat someone up.
I think the majority of those who have lived in Saudi have seen a street fight or two during their time often for no good reason at all.
I know I have gone a bit off topic but when young Saudis get behind the wheel they go into battle mode. It seems reminiscent of the days when Arab tribes would battle one another on horseback.