Happened to a number of people I know. And there are groups in Egypt that try to draw attention to the issue and advocate for more rights and protections.
Each country and subculture within that country will have a different proportion of that type of thing. Egypt is very large and has very low GDP per capita.
Similar culture in Pakistan — ie, the social and financial responsibility that the male head of family carries incentivizes him to marry his daughters off as soon as possible/good opportunity presents. If he’s low income, it takes financial weight off his shoulders, and if he’s doing well financially, he knows that may not last forever, so he locks in the best family he’s able to fetch for his daughter.
My grandfather arranged my mother’s marriage when she was15 (she married at 16) and my aunt’s when she was 13 (married at14). He was a successful businessman (flour mills) and didn’t have a financial issue supporting them, but he capitalized on his respect in the community to marry his daughters into the professional class.
Thanks for the share Mohammed. Appreciate your real life perspective.
