A recent study of the Ministry of Interior put the number of such women at 850. The study also said that the total runaway cases including that of men were 3,285 with Riyadh and Makkah provinces topping the list.
Saudi writer Hanan Al-Ataallah blamed abusive parents and other relatives for the growing phenomenon. “Some girls are alienated from their homes when they see unfair treatment, such as restrictions on them but not on their brothers,” the writer said.
“Although no scientific study is available with data about the runaway phenomenon in the Kingdom, I hope that a girl weighs all her options before heading in an unknown direction,” she added.
The writer was also mystified about the willingness of some Saudi girls to elope with expatriate workers whose incomes would not even suffice to offer them decent daily meals. She believed that there were some deeper reasons that prompted a girl to undertake the risky move than the common explanation that she was dazzled by the appearance of the guy or that she was floored by his consideration for her.
However, she admitted that some adolescent girls considered that a male film star or popular singer or even a football player was the most handsome man on earth, and that they would be enchanted by anyone who physically resembled him.
The writer stressed the role of parents in correcting wrong perceptions held by girls about men. “This is particularly vital in the mentally formative ages of Arab girls, as these generally do not have independent attitudes toward the other sex but follow the attitudes of their family members. “Because of this, any attempt by an Arab girl to emulate the style of American girls will only end up in catastrophe,” she added.
She wished that the Ministry of Social Affairs conducted serious and elaborate studies on the issue covering all regions in the Kingdom.
“Runaway girls are a universal social problem. However, in Saudi society the tendency is rising because of internal and external factors,” head of Social Service Department Ibrahim Al-Zubn told Arab News.
Al-Zubn said that a stressful life without love in broken families, and in some cases behavioral aberrations, were major factors that have fueled the spread of the phenomenon.
He also feared that runaway girls do not realize before making their adventurous plunge that they would be thrown into situations that force them into criminal activities. He suggested that special family attention and social arrangements, including counseling by psychologists and family counselors would be of great help to change dangerous attitudes of girls.
He added that schools, mosques and special care centers could also play considerable roles in scaling down the tendency.
