University professor and social researcher Professor Wadi’a Al-Amiyouni confirmed that the family today does not face a threat to its entity as much as it faces profound transformations imposed by rapid social and economic changes.
She explained that these transformations were directly reflected in young people’s choices and outlook on life, as priorities were no longer what they were before. Rather, education, professional stability, self-realization, and providing financial security took precedence over the idea of early marriage and establishing a family.
Based on this reality, Al-Amiyouni pointed out that the concept of “spinsterhood,” which was a social concern among previous generations, has declined significantly, as delaying marriage is now seen as a personal choice or as a natural result of living and economic conditions, not as a social problem that calls for concern or stigma.
She believed that society lives in a complex era in which economic, cultural and technological factors intersect, which has led to a change in patterns of social relations and concepts of family connection. The high cost of living, the difficulty of securing housing, and the decline in economic opportunities also contributed to raising the age of marriage for young men and women, which made taking this step more linked to the ability to achieve stability.
Despite all these transformations, Al-Amouni stressed that the family institution still maintains its basic position in society, but it adapts to the new data and requirements of the times. She concluded by emphasizing that reading these variables objectively, far from prejudices and traditional concepts, constitutes the basis for understanding the reality of youth and anticipating the future of the family in Arab societies.
