Chinese brides put pressure on unmarried Egyptian girls

Egyptian men have recently been seeking to marry Chinese women in an attempt to escape the high costs of a traditional Egyptian marriage and to have partners known for their loyalty.

A large number of Egyptian men, mostly over the age of 35, have contacted the Chinese embassy in Cairo to inquire about the possibility of marrying Chinese women. Others have been seeking Chinese brides through matchmaking Web sites. Despite confirming that they have received requests from Egyptian men, the embassy said it refuses to act as a go-between.

The financial situation of Egyptian youths is the major reason behind their preference for Chinese brides. In a traditional Egyptian marriage, the groom has to pay a dowry, buy an apartment and give the bride a diamond ring or a gift made of gold. By contrast, Chinese women do not ask for much in this regard.

In addition, many Egyptian men view Chinese women as perfect wives because they think Chinese women are pretty, active and smart as well as very skilled in cooking and other household chores. In their eyes, Chinese girls are also well trained in martial arts, and thereby capable of defending themselves as well as their husbands.

For Egyptian men, obedience and loyalty are the most attractive features of Chinese women, as the Chinese culture teaches them to be subordinate to their husbands. Another important advantage is that the mother of an expatriate Chinese woman normally does not live in Egypt, which means the husband does not need to worry about the mother-in-law’s interference in the couple’s life.

The phenomenon of seeking Chinese brides has gone beyond major cities like Cairo and Alexandria, and has extended to small towns in Upper Egypt and the Nile Delta. Egyptian families who have unmarried girls have started expressing their concerns over the Chinese invasion.

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