People walking in Dubai's Design District during the annual design week, Nov. 9, 2024. (Credit: Fadel Senna/AFP)
Changing perceptions of couples, marriage and family, broken taboos and persistent red lines — this week, Voices of the Middle East examines the evolution of attitudes toward love and intimacy in Gulf countries. How are the region’s cultural and social transformations reshaping romantic relationships and expectations?Laure Assaf, assistant professor of anthropology at New York University Abu Dhabi and a specialist in the Arabian Peninsula, spoke to L’Orient-Le Jour about the evolution of social and moral norms in the Gulf and their impact on relationships and marriage aspirations.L'Orient-Le Jour: For several years, observers have pointed to major cultural and social changes in the Gulf countries. To what extent have these shifts changed the way people meet and think about couples?Laure Assaf: Gulf countries are societies in constant...
Changing perceptions of couples, marriage and family, broken taboos and persistent red lines — this week, Voices of the Middle East examines the evolution of attitudes toward love and intimacy in Gulf countries. How are the region’s cultural and social transformations reshaping romantic relationships and expectations?Laure Assaf, assistant professor of anthropology at New York University Abu Dhabi and a specialist in the Arabian Peninsula, spoke to L’Orient-Le Jour about the evolution of social and moral norms in the Gulf and their impact on relationships and marriage aspirations.L'Orient-Le Jour: For several years, observers have pointed to major cultural and social changes in the Gulf countries. To what extent have these shifts changed the way people meet and think about couples?Laure Assaf: Gulf countries are societies in...
