Afrah Borji – Women in Development and Peace
The media plays a central role in addressing the phenomenon of spinsterhood in Yemen. It shapes public awareness and changes negative perceptions by highlighting and guiding discussions on the social and economic factors contributing to the rising number of unmarried women in Yemen.
Yemeni media is key in shaping public opinion and supporting social causes, but spinsterhood – a deep-rooted social and economic challenge – doesn’t get enough attention. This absence raises questions about priorities in covering women’s issues or whether socio-cultural pressures prevent frank and in-depth discussions.
Ignoring spinsterhood in Yemeni media is a huge gap in covering women’s issues. It’s closely linked to education, economic empowerment, and changing societal views of women. Comprehensive and objective coverage should highlight its multiple dimensions and push society towards innovative solutions.
This report aims to clarify the role of Yemeni media in raising awareness of spinsterhood and assess its impact on changing behaviors and attitudes.
The Complex Social Phenomena
Spinsterhood is a complex social issue significantly impacting Yemeni society. Media, especially print, plays a vital role in shaping public opinion.
Journalist Ahmad al-Ghanem, from an online news site, says, “Print journalism offers in-depth analyses of spinsterhood in Yemen, based on reliable statistics, helping people understand the problem’s complexity. This scientific approach helps readers grasp the issue’s impact on society.”
He explains that journalism aims to change negative societal views of unmarried women, challenging stereotypes about marriage and women. These efforts promote gender equality, creating a more accepting environment for unmarried women.
He stresses that journalism offers practical solutions to spinsterhood, including developing community awareness programs, raising awareness of the causes, and encouraging women’s active participation in public life, strengthening their roles and rights.
Husain Ahmad (pseudonym), a broadcaster, discusses television’s role in raising awareness, explaining that TV is accessible to most Yemeni homes, giving it significant influence.
He notes that highlighting societal issues on TV has become rare due to ongoing conflicts and economic crises dominating Yemeni channels, prioritizing political news over social issues, including spinsterhood.
He confirms that spinsterhood is important to Yemeni women and impacts society, yet media attention remains limited. Despite challenges, some Yemeni channels are raising awareness through social and cultural programs highlighting spinsterhood’s effects and challenges, providing a platform for dialogue and discussion to help change societal attitudes.
The Challenges
Media in Yemen faces several challenges when it comes to addressing the issue of spinsterhood. One of the main challenges is censorship and restrictions; media outlets are under strict control from official bodies, which hampers their ability to discuss sensitive topics like spinsterhood. Additionally, social and cultural constraints limit freedom of expression regarding women’s issues, while societal norms and traditions tend to view unmarried women negatively, making discussions about spinsterhood a taboo subject.
Ahlam Zain, a journalist working with various independent sites, highlights the significant obstacles Yemeni media faces in covering sensitive issues like spinsterhood with more depth and transparency. Many media organizations focus heavily on political and security news, which diminishes their attention to social issues, including spinsterhood, and there’s fear of backlash from the community or official entities.
She points out that the media struggles to address spinsterhood due to multiple cultural, social, economic, and political factors. Marriage and spinsterhood are considered taboo topics in Yemeni society, making it challenging to open community dialogue around them through any media form, be it print, radio, or television.
She adds, “Yemeni families fear the stigma associated with their daughters not getting married, which makes them avoid discussing this issue. Strong customs and traditions regarding marriage dominate Yemeni society, which may hinder discussions of alternative or non-traditional solutions to the problem of spinsterhood.”
She also mentions that poverty drives up the costs of marriage, preventing many young people from marrying and, consequently, increasing the rate of spinsterhood. Unemployment significantly impacts marriage opportunities, as many girls prefer to marry men with stable jobs.
Future Plans
A professor in journalism at the Faculty of Arts at Al-Hodeidah University, who preferred to remain unnamed, discusses future plans to tackle the phenomenon of spinsterhood by strengthening joint efforts at both government and community levels.
He emphasizes the need to develop social and economic programs by providing job opportunities for youth through support for small and medium enterprises, encouraging investment as a means of boosting the local economy and creating jobs, improving healthcare services, especially concerning women’s health and childbirth, and offering financial support to low- and middle-income families to alleviate their financial burden, facilitating marriage possibilities.
He adds, “There needs to be a review of marriage laws to simplify procedures and set an appropriate legal marriage age, enhancing women’s rights in society through laws that protect them and guarantee their rights.”
Journalist Yasir Abbas presented a set of future plans for the media to Women in Development and Peace, newspaper which includes comprehensive coverage of the spinsterhood issue, focusing on its causes and consequences for society, producing awareness programs that address marriage and family relationships, encouraging discussions around the topic of spinsterhood by stimulating the exchange of opinions and ideas, and working to create a dialogue environment that fosters open discussions on sensitive issues.
Perspectives of Journalists
Mohammed Abdu, an independent journalist at a news portal, emphasized the crucial role of media in addressing the issue of spinsterhood in Yemeni society by raising community awareness. He says the media can help clarify the real reasons behind spinsterhood, moving away from stereotypes and misconceptions that might reinforce the stigma associated with being single.
He pointed out that balanced coverage and community dialogue allow the media to create space for discussing realistic solutions that can ease the social and economic pressures on individuals. Additionally, he explained that the media’s role extends beyond just reporting reality; it also serves as a tool for changing perceptions and encouraging communities to adopt policies and legislation that support young people wanting to marry and achieve social stability.
In this context, journalist Abdullah Al-Mairbi stressed the importance of media in addressing issues related to dowries and marriage conditions in Yemen through comprehensive media coverage of dowry-related problems. This could positively change the negative societal perception and encourage families to rethink marriage requirements, moving away from the exaggeration of dowries.
He noted that media is an effective tool for spreading solutions and addressing the issue of high dowries by showcasing social reactions and the consequences of these conditions on society. He proposed several solutions, including urging parents to be more reasonable when setting dowries by raising awareness through various influential platforms, so that dowries don’t become an obstacle to marriage. He also highlighted the importance of educating girls about marrying decent men at an early age, enabling them to make informed decisions.
Overall, there’s a strong consensus that the media has a vital role in tackling issues related to marriage and dowries by influencing public opinion and providing practical solutions that contribute to improving the social and economic conditions in Yemeni society.