Table 6 Proverbs representing women as a symbol of disgrace.

From: Ideological representations of women in Jordanian folk proverbs from the perspective of cultural semiotics

يا بسترها يا بقبرها

The woman, either in her decency (marriage) or in her grave

البنت تجيب العار والعدو لباب الدار

The girl brings disgrace and the enemy to the door of the house

صوت حيّة ولا صوت بنيّة

عقربتين عالحيط ولا بنتين بالبيت

The voice of a snake is better than the voice of a girl. Two scorpions on the wall is better than two girls in the house.

(i.e., having a snake or scorpion in the house is better than having a girl out of pessimism)

المرة خيرها لجوزها وشرها لأهلها

The good of a woman is for her husband, but the bad is for her parents

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