Of all the injustices in the world, there will never be one that rivals that of an Arab girl and her brothers.
I mean, seriously? I'm so sheltered I'm basically a turtle, and my brothers get away with practically murder!
We live in such a patriarchal world, it's not even logical the things girls have to go through to be able to be treated as equals.
How is this fair? How is any of it fair?
1. Curfew only for you
Can we, just for a second, talk about how boys have basically no curfew, yet I have to comply with the same curfew I've had since I turned 16 (6 years ago)?
Brother: *comes home at 5 A.M."
Mom: *next day* "oh, let him sleep habibi"
Me: *not home by midnight*
Mom: *calls 12 times, sends 3 texts, 5 whatsapp voice notes, 10 messenger pigeons*
2. No guy friends allowed
I absolutely love how it's completely okay for my brothers to hang out and even sleepover at girls' houses, but when I ask my guy friends over to game, and they stay past 10, it suddenly becomes "3ayb" and they "don't respect you or the house"
Me: uhm, but why though?
3. Bro's got dibs on the car
First, let me say getting your parents to let you drive is a miracle on its own, but if you and your brother share a car, he always gets priority, even if you need it to get to work or school or something really important.
Obviously his need to go pick up his friends is way more important than your trivial problems.
4. Playing house
Okay, it's story time.
When I was planning to live in Dubai (where my older brother lives) my mom was adamant on me learning how to cook, clean, do laundry, basically all the household things. And, obviously, she's right, if you're going to live alone you need to be able to do these things.
And I would be totally fine with it ... if my brother knew how to do ONE of these things. Just ONE.
5. Sit Beit vs Man of the House
Also, what is up with all this "sit beit" stuff? I was not brought into this world to manage households and be married off.
Why does the man get to be the "man of the house" and be in charge of everything when it's so obviously clear the woman knows just as much as he does?
6. Prepped for marriage
And while we are being prepped for marriage, boys are being introduced to possible matches left, right and center by none other than our moms.
God forbid we'd want to explore the world and have a boyfriend than go straight from baba's house to hubby's house.
7. The Spanish Inquisition
Let's say, despite all the male privileges your brothers posses, you do manage to go out and stay past your curfew. Here's how it would go down.
Brother: I'm going out.
Mama: Okay habibi stay safe.
Me: I'm going out.
Mama: With who? How long? Where? What are you wearing? Will there be guys and girls? What color dress are you wearing? What condiments will you put on your hotdog?