“Emo” culture prevails among female college students in Saudi Arabia, according to a study by Princess Noura University and published in the American International Education Research Journal.
Dr. Latifa Al-Shaalan, Dr. Nora Al-Kadeeb, and Dr. Al-Jawhara Al-Squih participated in the study, in which 1,275 students were classified as “emos.”
The study showed that the idea of suicide exists among many of these students as a means to end suffering in life, and for many, music contributes to alleviating their feelings.
Dark eye shadow, distinct clothing, piercings in various parts of the body, tattoos with strange slogans, and remarkable hair styles characterize this group, who describe themselves as “emo.”
This culture first emerged in the early eighties, and is closely linked to rock and roll music. The name “emo” derives from the word emotion, which represents passion, grief, suffering and isolation.
With the prevalence of this culture in the West, there has also been an increase in this phenomenon among young Saudi men and women, where some take on an “emo” appearance, while others adopt representative behavior, beliefs, and lifestyle choices.
Rock and roll music, with its emotion-filled lyrics, touched 17 years old Bayan Jihad. She said that the music affects her mood, and due to some bad emotional experiences, she has felt more connected to the lyrics, the ideas, and the appearance of rock-and-roll artists, despite opposition from her family.
She added that her strange appearance, her dark hair and “emo” style make her distinctive amongst her friends, but the harassment of her schoolteachers makes her feel like her freedom is limited, so she is tries to stay away from them.
Susan Ashraf, 16, said she was hospitalized due to an acute infection in her ear that was caused by her reckless attempt to have a friend pierce her ear using a needle and ice.
As for the exotic hairstyles, Samira Junaidi, a 31 years old hairdresser in Jeddah, said: “There is a growing demand by girls and adolescents for ‘emo’ hairstyles.”
She said she is surprised that parents allow their girls to ruin their hair.
Dr. Bayan Al-Waaze, a family medicine consultant, said “emo” individuals are very emotionally sensitive, sometimes shy and quiet, and often suffer from sadness and depression. These emotions are influenced by loud songs and deep lyrics that significantly affect their behavior, and typically young girls and boys imitate the personalities and appearances of famous rockers.
She said this culture is focused on the translation of feelings of anger and psychological pain on the body, and many injure themselves around the wrist area. Such behavior confirms ideas and motives of suicide, she said, and added that often the reason for such behavior is linked to a tense or discouraging home environment.
Al-Waaze mentioned a study conducted three years ago under her supervision, and under the auspices of the joint program of Family Medicine. The study included about 1,000 middle and high school female students across Jeddah, who filled out questionnaires that aimed to detect the level of depression among the girls using the global “Depression Beck’s Scale.”
Data showed that depression is linked to several causes, most notably death of the mother or father, domestic violence, and sexual harassment. She said that 15.8 percent had symptoms of severe depression, 39.6 percent, average depression, and 19 percent mild or early depression symptoms. She noted that these percentages were high compared to other countries such as Oman, Sudan, and Turkey.
According to Dr. Majid Al-Fahad, a social and legal counsellor, “emo” behavior is also a way for young men and women to draw attention to themselves because they feel that the people are not interested in them. He stressed the role of school and the university in limiting these manifestations and abnormal behavior.
Dr. Mohammad Al-Nujaimi, associate professor at the Higher Judicial Institute and a member of the Islamic Jurisprudence Academy, said that studies about the phenomena in the schools and universities is the first step to address the issue. “Such behavior does not represent our culture, our society, or our religion,” he said, adding that such abnormal behavior is forbidden in Islam.
