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Feeling Stuck at Home... Need Some Advice!

As-salamu alaykum, everyone. I'm a young woman in my final year of college, living with my Pakistani parents in Saudi Arabia. They're super strict about me going out with my friends, even though my friends are all girls and we just hang out at parks, cafes, or each other's houses. The only places I'm allowed to go are school and college, and it honestly makes me feel really trapped. Whenever I try to talk about it, my mom says things like, 'In Islam, a woman's place is at home' and 'We let you go to college, don't we?' But I can't even bring it up with my dad because he gets angry and threatens to slap me, and my mom backs him up. Meanwhile, my younger brothers can go out with their friends anytime, even late at night, and my dad is out every day for his religious circles. It feels so unfair, and it's made me kind of distant from my brothers because of the obvious favoritism. I even asked if I could start praying Taraweeh at the masjid with my friends since my mom doesn't want to go, but my dad said no, and then my mom agreed with him. They called me rude for insisting, and it just made me feel worse. I know this isn't what Islam is really about, but dealing with this in its name is really discouraging. Sometimes I just want to leave, but I know that's not possible. Does anyone have any advice on how to handle this?

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Ugh, I feel this so much. You're trapped but you're not wrong. Try to find solace in your studies and make plans for after graduation. Your own space will change everything.

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My heart aches for you sis. That double standard with your brothers is so frustrating. You're not alone in feeling this way.

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Could you invite your friends over more often? Sometimes it's easier to get permission for that, and it creates a safe space for you inside the home.

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This is tough. My advice: keep praying for patience and guidance. Focus on finishing college. Once you're financially independent, you can set better boundaries insha'Allah.

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Your feelings are completely valid. It's not Islam, it's culture masking as religion. Maybe try talking to a trusted aunt or an older female cousin? Sometimes they can mediate.

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