CAIRO, Egypt – A relative newcomer to Arab TV, the Turkish soap opera "Noor" has helped narrow the gender gap between men and women across the Middle East. Women see the lead female character – the independent, aspiring fashion designer Noor -- as a role model. Meantime, her husband on the show -- the blue-eyed former model and athlete Mohannad -- has become the region’s first pin-up boy. The nightly soap opera has mainly female viewers glued to their TV sets not only because Mohannad is a cuter version of Justin Timberlake, but because he offers something many lack in their lives: romance, tenderness and a supportive partner to his independent wife. Mohannad has become the standard against which many Arab men are being judged, much to their chagrin. Too much to live up to According to Arab newspapers, marriages in Jordan, Syria and Saudi Arabia have dissolved because wives insisted on putting Mohannad´s picture on their mobile phone display, or on their bedroom wall. In Bahrain, a woman allegedly begged her husband to have plastic surgery to look like the actor. Another recent divorcee allegedly told her husband "I want to sleep with Mohannad one night and then die." In Saudi Arabia, where about one in seven people tunes in each night, men circulated the rumor that Kivanc Tatlitug, the actor who plays Mohannad, is gay, which left female viewers distraught until the rumor was dispelled. Saudi society abounds with Mohannad jokes such as this one: A Saudi woman was touring Turkey with her husband and son when her husband went missing. As she described him to the police, her son shouted, "But that´s not what Daddy looks like." "Be quiet," she whispers, "They might just give me Mohannad." A positive role model for women To some young women, the aspiring fashion designer Noor, provides a positive female role model and encourages them to raise the bar not only on future spouses but on themselves. In Cairo, Na´ama Hegazy, a single 25-year-old, watches "Noor" three times a day and says it has influenced the way she sees her future. "I want a romantic [man] who treats me like how Mohannad treats his wife. Every day he brings her flowers and tells her romantic words," said Hegazy. "The life will be very good when a husband treats his wife [like that]." But Hegazy also wants to emulate Noor who is a both a good wife and mother, and a self-reliant professional. "When she has troubles with Mohannad, she wants him to leave her alone. She wants to work and doesn´t want anything from him. This means any woman who falls out with her husband can work and depend on herself." Rest of the article: Soap Opera "Noor" (Gümüþ ) changes traditional Arab Gender Roles A family watches the Turkish soap opera "Noor" in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Saturday.
turkish series is so good but in EGYPT doesnt make an amazzing thing thats becouse Egyptions has along history in drama they have amany famous series and universal actors like ömer al þherif
the reason that make the turkish series is good the good actors they playing their charters very good
but ididnt think Mohanned makes in egypt like in other contries becouse egyptions has opened minds and very long history in all the kinds of arts and they have alot of famous actors
thats dont making they didnt like turkish series no but they liked all the turkish series and all the turkish arts and all the turkish people
Edited (9/23/2009) by nifrtity
Edited (9/23/2009) by nifrtity
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