Saudi Gazette Marriage is an important turning point in a person's life. It is the biggest decision one undertakes, and while putting a thought to it, he/she prefers someone who would be more than just a better half. Traditionally, four major factors make a woman more desirable and preferable for a man seeking a wife; beauty, wealth, noble lineage, and devotion to Islam. In this era, there is an addition, which is her career or her university degree or specialization. Prospective grooms look for a woman with the same educational background and even a job because they think that this similar criterion will keep the marriage more steady, lively, fun, and mentally stimulating. After specializing in internal medicine and completing his residency, Dr. Nader Al-Hasan wanted to get married and start a family. One important criterion he had in choosing a suitable wife was finding a woman who was a doctor and who specialized in internal medicine like himself. Al-Hasan was lucky to have found a partner who matched his preferences. Two years down the line, he has two children and his marriage is strong and filled with love. According to Al-Hasan, marrying a spouse with the same career and specialization gives the relationship a whole new dimension and a fresh approach. His wife is not only his life partner she is his colleague, friend, and confidant. “At home we engage in endless discussions of the latest research findings in the field of internal medicine and the challenges and triumphs we faced at work. We attend medical conferences together. Having the same type of work allows us to understand and appreciate one another better and it adds flavor to our marriage,” he said. Dr. Ahmad Mustafa also shares the same thought. He said, “My wife and I are both orthopedic surgeons and our mutual passion for this field of medicine has opened up broader horizons for both of us and pushed us to accomplish more in our careers. Now, we are even thinking of jointly establishing our own private clinic.” Not only is area of specialty an important criterion for doctors, but also for men working in education. When the time was right for Islamic studies teacher, Rashed Al-Harbi, he specifically requested his family members to look for a woman who had studied Islamic Education. He too ended up marrying a pleasant woman who works as a teacher at a school for the memorization of the Holy Qur'an. He said, “We are very happy together and conversations between the two of us are never boring. We have a similar level of thinking and we agree on many important issues, such as education and teaching skills.” On the other hand, some women have discovered a disadvantage to marrying someone with the same specialization.“There is a hidden downside to marrying someone with the same job. My husband and I are both Arabic language teachers and he started relying on me to do much of his work. He dumps the burden of grading his students' test papers on me, in addition to grading my own students' test papers, planning lessons, and setting exam questions.” Nonetheless, most believe that the benefits of marrying someone with a similar career and the same interests outweigh the negative aspects. Consultant psychiatrist, Dr. Adnan Ashur, said, “A man who is devoted to his career and enjoys his line of work often picks a spouse who is treading a similar path at her work. Holding the same jobs fosters mutual respect and understanding, and the marriage becomes more of a friendship and partnership in the workplace and in the home. Medical students and doctors are especially more resolute in choosing a spouse who is also a doctor. Only another doctor can truly understand the stress, pressure, and unrelenting demands placed on a doctor. But the importance of sharing common interests and lifestyles also extends to other careers. For example, a teacher of the Qur'an wants to marry a woman who is also keen on learning and teaching the Qur'an because they will both have similar values and ideologies which will lead to less clashes and confrontations in family life.” __
