Many Iraqi marriages are still arranged, although often young people are placed in situations where they can meet one another. Many people believe that since marriage has social and economic dimensions, these concerns are more important than mere emotions. In Islamic society, there is a much greater difference between public and private behavior than in Western societies. Arab men and women do not express affection of any sort in public, including holding hands. Contrarily, affection is often publicly expressed among friends of the same sex, including hugs and repeated kisses.
Arab women are usually deferential to their fathers, brothers, or husbands in public.