GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — Three years ago, Jamal Najib would have never considered marrying a girl who was employed. Due to the harsh living conditions in the Gaza Strip, however, Najib had no choice but to change his mind and marry a girl with a job.

“I always thought that marrying a working girl who pays for the family needs would affect both my manliness and our happiness as a married couple, but I eventually realized that due to the current hardships and economic crisis, our life would be quite tough if I marry an unemployed girl,” Najib, 29, whose wedding is scheduled for Dec. 7, told Al-Monitor.

Dardah al-Shaer, professor of social psychology at Al-Aqsa University, told Al-Monitor, “Poverty and unemployment have reached unprecedented levels in Gaza as inflation and the weak purchasing power top the list of reasons that prompt guys to marry working girls in order to adapt to the economic conditions."

Shaer added, “To marry working girls is now being accepted by the Palestinian youth who believe in the importance of having women assume responsibilities and play a role in house management given the worsening economic conditions and life's crises.”