Well I’m Muslim, so I don’t really even date in the popular sense, but the whole point of getting to know someone is to see if you two are right for marriage—and if you are, promptly getting married. Marriage is sacred and the foundation of healthy families. We are social creatures, and having companionship is essential for us to flourish and have peace in our lives. It can have its own challenges at times, but challenges are necessary for growth
But I have a non muslim friend who holds very diff ideas from myself that doesn’t “date to marry,” & he said the reason is he just wants to enjoy his time w ppl/have new experiences without concrete expectations. I think our culture is generally hedonist, so that coupled with divorce rates and not rly having a strong reason for marriage makes a lot of ppl not prioritize it—especially at our age in college when ppl have other priorities and just want to have fun
I mean I’m 6’5 & I can’t find someone to marry, I’m not blaming that on my height though—I just haven’t found anyone compatible. Meanwhile, my friend who’s 5’6 literally got married 2 weeks ago. Sure most women do like taller men, but they also care a lot less abt height than you think, usually they just want someone taller than them, not 6’+ per se. Some will go for men shorter than them too. I reject the 5yr claim you made, but even if it were true that would mean it’s a temporary phase
Also, if all the experiences with women you’ve had have been bad, I’d earnestly recommend you reevaluate and raise your standards to stop going for those type of people. If you tell yourself you’re doomed, you will be doomed—no one likes doomer energy. Most people in the world are under 6’ and I think you’ve got a rly decent chance of finding someone to love and live life with, like your parents, and like countless short people throughout history and its varying circumstances. Keep your head up
While I get what you’re saying doesn’t the system you’re describing have its own issues? For example not truly knowing someone very well before marriage or familial pressure to marry specific people? The traditional US system while not as regimented is based on individual choice and has more flexibility
I think that’s more of a cultural thing tbh, my parents aren’t pressuring me to marry anyone, & neither did their parents. I have full individual choice to marry anyone I like, just haven’t met that person yet. And you can get to know a person without getting physical with them pretty easily imo, it’s not like you have to marry them a week after meeting lmao
Nah, I think compatibility can be gauged without all that (provided one is pragmatic and emotionally intelligent). Most couples for most of human history did none of those things prior to marriage—and still do none of those things prior to marriage in most of the world. And the method I ascribe to seems to work, I don’t know anyone that’s divorced when following it personally
I was born in Asia, it’s not uncommon nowadays for people to date more similarly to people in Latin America, Europe, or North America. I think your perspective is based on the Islamic world which is only a fraction and tends to be an outlier on dating. It is a new phenomenon because people don’t get married at 20 anymore at the behest of their families
It is not. I might be American, but my parents worked for Doctors Without Borders, so I grew up traveling the world till high school. I speak 7 languages and have been to 34 countries, only 8 of which were in the Islamic world (even my grandparents are from a non Muslim majority country). Go to Panyu in Guangzhou and ask literally any shopkeeper how they got married—you won’t hear about any cohabitation prior to marriage, I know bc I hung out w a shopkeeper I met there and got to know his family
For your question: I’m a pretty social person. If I’m interested in a girl, I ask for her father’s number—ideally through an intermediary, but directly if needed—talk to him, and if he approves I talk to her with another person to get to know who she is as a person, her values, life plans, thoughts, general chemistry, lifestyle, expectations, etc. My parents have also set up meetings with ppl they thought I’d like before