Single women threaten Qatar's population rise - Polygamy Suggested

http://www.gulfnews.com/region/Qatar/10151688.html

By Barbara Bibbo', Correspondent
Published: September 05, 2007, 23:21

Doha: Qatar's national population is under threat because Qatari women are marrying later in life and a quarter of child-bearing women are unmarried, an official said.

Hasan Al Muhannadi, deputy chairman of the Permanent Population Committee, said a report on Qatar's demographic trends showed that 24 per cent of national women aged between 25 and 39 were unmarried. According to Qatar's Planning Council's statistics, the trend is resulting in a considerable decrease in the birth rate, while abortion rates have doubled since 1994.

"Statistics reflect negatively especially on women," Al Muhannadi said addressing a public forum on Tuesday.

The local daily Gulf Times reported Al Muhannadi as indicating that "the report is imposing a psychological and social burden upon unmarried Qatari women as married women have more chance to be productive in society," henceforth linking women's productivity to their fertility.

Social development

Adding to the concerns are the statistics about the number of divorces, with one out of three marriages among Qataris ending in divorce, according to Qatar's Human Development Report for 2006. The Planning Council says Qatar's economic growth and social development has led to an unprecedented independence of women that has affected traditional social patterns. A Qatari social activist recently proposed solving the issue of unmarried women by inviting nationals to exercise polygamy.

"It is a social responsibility to find a match for each woman willing to marry in order to avoid moral problems," said Abdul Aziz Al Ansari, who runs a non-profit marriage bureau.

25% of child-bearing women are unmarried

* 24 per cent of national women aged between 25 and 39 are unmarried.
* One out of three marriages among Qataris ends in divorce, according to Qatar's Human Development Report for 2006.
* The issue of woman choosing not to marry is due to a number of factors, including women's growing awareness of their right to be educated, to work, to vote and to choose a partner
* Studies put the percentage of unmarried woman at 35 per cent in Kuwait, Bahrain and the UAE, 30 per cent in Saudi Arabia and 10 per cent in Oman.
* The problem is so serious there are 30 to 40 unmarried women for every two to three eligible bachelors. A Qatari social activist recently proposed solving the issue of unmarried women by inviting nationals to exercise polygamy.