Women in Morocco
General Statistics | |
---|---|
Maternal mortality (per 100,000) | 100 (2010) |
Women in parliament | 11.0% (2013) |
Women over 25 with secondary education | 20.1% (2012) |
Women in labour force | 43.0% (2012) |
Gender Inequality Index[1] | |
Value | 0.425 (2021) |
Rank | 104th out of 191 |
Global Gender Gap Index[2] | |
Value | 0.624 (2022) |
Rank | 136th out of 146 |
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Women in society |
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The history of women in Morocco includes their lives from before, during, and after the arrival of Islam in the northwestern African country of Morocco.
After Morocco's independence from France, Moroccan women were able to start going to schools that focused on teaching more than simply religion, expanding their education to the sciences and other subjects.
Upon the institution of the legal code known as Mudawana in 2004, Moroccan women obtained the rights to divorce their husbands, to child custody, to child support, and to own and inherit property.[3] The law made progressive reforms on the status of women, but "substantial inequality and discrimination persist, particularly in unequal access to divorce for women, financial relationships between spouses, and child custody and guardianship."[4]
Amazigh women in Morocco
Prior to the spread of
The jewellery of the Berber cultures is a style of traditional jewellery worn by women and girls in areas inhabited by indigenous Amazigh people. Following long social and cultural traditions, the silversmiths of such ethnic groups created intricate jewellery to adorn their female customers. Traditional rural Amazigh jewellery was usually made of silver and includes elaborate triangular fibula brooches, originally used as clasps for garments, as well as necklaces, bracelets, earrings and similar items.[7]
Amazigh women also have had a lasting position in Moroccan
In her study about Amazigh women's social and cultural roles in the Ait Kabbash tribe in southern Morocco, art historian Cynthia Becker wrote:[10]
In fact, women in North Africa and more specifically, Amazigh women, have always been active agents who influence both the domestic and the public sphere. They play an important role in their communities by providing commodities such as tents, clothing, rugs, sacks, and ceramic pots, in addition to acting as healers, marriage brokers, midwives, cooks, agriculturalists, and pastoralists.
— Cynthia Becker, Amazigh Arts in Morocco. Women shaping Berber identity
Establishment of Islamic institutions (680-900)
Following the Arab expansion into the Maghreb region, some women took on significant roles in the institutional foundation of landmarks that continue to function today.
European imperial expansion and forms of colonialism (1600-1956)
As part of a broader French imperialist project that brought about the French occupation of Morocco and the Maghreb region in general, European narratives on Moroccan women were often fixated on Orientalist images. Dominant narratives described Moroccan women as docile, oppressed, and in need of being saved. Consequently, Moroccan women's experience of life under French influence was a result of multiple intersections of power and patriarchy. For example, following a growing trend of French land expropriation and economic hardship, which drove rural Moroccan families out of their homes and land, many Moroccan women migrated to the urban areas in search of economic opportunity, especially to Casablanca and other major cities.[13] Upon migrating to Casablanca, some of them were forced into prostitution, due to their lack of formal identification documents — a policy that the French instituted.[citation needed]
Women in anti-colonial resistance
Just as Moroccan women were subject to a gendered form of colonialism, their resistance was gendered as well. The oral traditions of Moroccan women were a unique form of disseminating stories of resistance, oftentimes inspired by oral traditions of female warriors who fought in early Islamic history, such as the stories of
In addition to the oral traditions of women involved in armed resistance, a role that mostly lower-class women took up, upper class Moroccan women were heavily involved in the nationalist politics of resisting colonialism. The Istiqlal Party was the primary mobilizing political force in Morocco that rallied against French colonial rule. The party included the participation of various elite Moroccan women from wealthy and educated families, such as Malika Al-Fassi, from the still influential Al-Fassi family.[15] There was a close collaboration between women like Malika Al-Fassi, who were important figures in the political resistance, and women such as Fatima Roudania, a working-class armed resistance fighter.[14] The wealthier women involved with the Istiqlal Party provided educational services to lower-class women involved in the armed resistance, assisted in the proliferation of nationalist literature and knowledge production, and provided protection by hiding women who were fighting against the French.[14]
Many of the Moroccan women involved in resisting French colonialism oftentimes looked to the public presence of women in struggles of resistance in the region for inspiration, such as in Algeria and Palestine, including women like Djamila Bouhired and Leila Khaled.[citation needed]
Independence (1956-present)
Literature, knowledge production, artistic expression
Following independence from France in 1956, Moroccan women were at the forefront of knowledge production and artistic expression—all of which nuanced the conception and perception of a post-colonial Moroccan identity.
Moroccan women artists also gained regional and international popularity, including Lalla Essaydi, Samira Said, Amel Bent, Najat Aatabou, Dounia Batma, and Naima Samih, among others.
Women in politics
In addition to art and literature, Moroccan women have been publicly present in shaping contemporary politics. In 1961, the Union Progresiste des Femmes Marocaines emerged as one of the first exclusively female organizations in Morocco.
Various Moroccan women have held positions in the government, cabinet, and high ranks in political parties, including
Due to this increased political voice, women's representation in parliament has increased dramatically, from 1% in 2003 to 17% in 2015; Morocco's 2004 Family Code (
Following the increase in representation, Morocco has seen improvements in women's health and social outcomes: the fertility rate is now one of the lowest in the region; the maternal mortality rate fell by two-thirds in just two decades; girls' primary school enrolment rose from 52% in 1991 to 112% in 2012 (due to re-enrolment); and just under 23% of women are in formal employment (2011).[20]
Outside the realm of formal politics, Moroccan women have been active in various advocacy projects and legal reforms. Most notably, following the suicide of
Moroccan women have also been active in lobbying for reforms to the personal status code laws (Mudawana). It was initially codified following Morocco's independence from France and was used as a tool for the state's immediate consolidation of power.
Current Laws on Abortion in Morocco
Abortion is illegal in Morocco except if the mother's life is at risk. According to Article 453 of the Penal Code,[27] abortion is only allowed if the mother's physical health is threatened but the authorisation of a physician and the spouse is still required. A woman who undergoes an abortion for any other reason could face six months to two years in prison and the doctor who performs the procedure could be imprisoned for up to 5 years.
Proposed Reforms
An amendment to Morocco's abortion law was put forward in 2015[28] after the minister of Islamic Affairs and Justice was ordered by King Mohamed VI to propose a new law for abortions that would permit abortions in the case of rape, incest and foetal impairment. This national debate was sparked by the activism of Dr. Chafik Chraibi,[29] the former head of the department of obstetrics and gynaecology at a state maternity hospital in Rabat who founded the non-profit organisation the Moroccan Association for the Fight Against Clandestine Abortion (AMLAC). A report by the organisation revealed that between 600-800 illegal abortions were being performed daily nationwide.
The proposed laws have still not been passed. A national debate was sparked again following the death of a 14-year-old girl called Meriem[30] who became pregnant after being raped then died following a clandestine abortion on 6th September 2022. An organisation campaigning for social change, Moroccan Outlaws 490, announced 20 September 2022 as a day of national mourning for Meriem and people used #Meriem (مريم) to express their condolences as well as wishes for the law to change.[citation needed]
Controversies
Hajar Raissouni, a journalist, was arrested in 2019 and sentenced to a year in prison for allegedly having an illegal abortion and sex out of wedlock.[31] She was later pardoned by King Mohammed VI.[32]
Harassment
Women in Morocco are often forced to endure harassment when they go out in public. Often the sexual harassment takes the form of
Social Movements Against Harassment
There are many organisations that campaign against the harassment faced by women in Morocco daily and some of them have even created mobile applications in an effort to make Morocco a safer place for women.
In 2016, a woman named Nidal Azhari who founded the Free Feminist Union Union féministe libre , created an app called Manchoufouch, which means "Can I watch you?" in Darija (Moroccan Arabic). After being verbally harassed by a man using this phrase whilst with friends in Meknes, she was inspired to create the app[35] which allows people to anonymously report verbal and physical harassment. The user must create an account before registering an incident and then they can report either as a victim or a witness. The UFL can also assist them with legal proceedings. You can also change or delete your report at any time and the app is available both in Darija and French.
In 2018, another app called Finemchi was launched by Safaa El Jazouli. 'Finemchi' means 'Where should I go?' in Moroccan Arabic and it has been described as Trip Advisor for women's safety. The app can be downloaded onto mobile phones and women can review establishments and rate them depending on how female friendly they are.[36]
Contraception
Many forms of contraception are available in Morocco such as; hormonal contraceptives, intauterine devices (IUD), birth control patches, birth control implants, the vaginal ring and condoms.
71% of married women use some form of contraception[37] and this is usually hormonal contraception because when women seek birth control from physicians, they are most likely to be prescribed this. There are other of contraception available in pharmacies and health clinics but people may not feel comfortable accessing these services, especially single women. It is also not uncommon for some Moroccans to take hormonal medication without a prescription.[citation needed]
It’s widely acknowledged[who?] in many countries that when the public are educated on contraception and family planning decrease the demand for abortions.
Morocco are putting efforts into educating not only the public[38] but also doctors so that they can recommend methods of contraception other than hormonal birth control which can have many side effects.
Emergency contraception is available in Morocco but not widely used due to a lack of knowledge.
Associations such as the Moroccan Association of Family Planning are working to educate people[39] to understand that contraception is not just an issue for women, especially since their studies show that only 50% of young Moroccan men regularly use a condom. They also campaign to improve access to sexual and reproductive health services for migrants and refugees living in Morocco.
Following the World Health Organisation’s publication ‘guideline on self-care interventions for health and well-being’, Morocco launched a pilot project to introduce self-administered injectable contraceptive in November 2021. The project has now been completed and was successful. Injectable contraception was already available in Morocco but it had to be administer by a health care professional. This project allowed women to inject themselves and the protection lasted for 12 weeks at a time. Health professionals where also trained on how to show clients how to inject themselves. Next steps are now being discussed to see how this method of contraception can be distributed more widely.
See also
- Moroccanwomen's magazine
References
- ^ "Human Development Report 2021/2022" (PDF). HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORTS. Retrieved 19 December 2022.
- ^ "Global Gender Gap Report 2022" (PDF). World Economic Forum. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
- ^ "Women in Morocco". THIRDEYEMOM. 26 April 2011. Retrieved 9 November 2013.
- ISBN 978-1-107-02352-9
- ^ Laroui, Abdallah. The History of the Maghrib: An Interpretive Essay. Princeton: Princeton Studies on the Near East, 1977.
- ^ Brett, Michael, and Elizabeth Fentress. The Berbers. Wiley: Blackwell, 1997. [page?]
- OCLC 568018126. The Art of Dressing the Body p. 47-75
- ^ Crapanzano, Vincent. The Hamadsha. A Study in Moroccan Ethnopsychiatry. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1973.
- ^ Westermarck, Edward. Ritual and Belief in Morocco. London: Macmillan and Co., 1926
- ^ Becker 2006, p. 5
- ^ "dead link". www.sacred-destinations.com. Archived from the original on 2022-06-26. Retrieved 2022-03-08.
- ^ "Fatima Al-Fihri – Founder of the Oldest University in the World." The Urban Muslim Woman. Retrieved 2014-03-02
- ^ Maghraoui, Driss. "Gendering Urban Colonial Casablanca" in Martina Rieker and Kamran Asdar Ali, eds. Gendering Urban Space in the Middle East, South Asia and Africa (New York & Houndmills: Palgrave Macmillan, 2008)
- ^ a b c Baker, Alison. Voices of Resistance: Oral Histories of Moroccan Women. New York: SUNY Series, 1998.
- ^ ""Women Movements in Morocco." Al Akhawayn University. Retrieved 2014-03-02". Archived from the original on 2014-03-17. Retrieved 2014-03-17.
- ^ Salime, Zakia. Between Feminism and Islam: Human Rights and Sharia Law in Morocco. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 2011.
- ^ Lalami, Laila (February 27, 2011). "Fadoua Laroui: The Moroccan Mohamed Bouazizi". Retrieved August 19, 2019 – via www.thenation.com.
- ^ a b "Gender Quotas Database | International IDEA". www.idea.int. Retrieved August 19, 2019.
- ^ "Women's political empowerment in Morocco". Development Progress. Overseas Development Institute. Archived from the original on 18 May 2015. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
- ^ Castillejo, Clare; Tilley, Helen. "The road to reform Women's political voice in Morocco" (PDF). Development Progress. Overseas Development Institute. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 May 2015. Retrieved 12 May 2015.
- ^ "Status of Women in the Middle East and North Africa". www.swmena.net. Retrieved August 19, 2019.
- ^ "Morocco repeals 'rape marriage law'". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved August 19, 2019.
- ^ Charrad, Mounira. State and Women's Rights: The Making of Postcolonial Tunisia, Algeria, and Morocco. Berkeley: University of California Press, 2001.
- ^ Harrak, Fatima (2009). "The History and Significance of the New Moroccan Family Code". Institute for the Study of Islamic Thought in Africa Working Paper Series, Northwestern University.
- ^ Cavatorta, Francesco; Emanuela Salmasso (2009). "Liberal Outcomes through Undemocratic Means: The Reform of the Code de status personnel in Morocco." Journal of Modern African Studies.
- ^ Guessous, Nadia. 2011. "Genealogies of Feminism: Leftist Feminist Subjectivity in the Wake of the Islamic Revival in Contemporary Morocco." PhD diss., Columbia University.
- ^ stuff about article 453
- ^ an exteral link
- ^ "Fearless: Dr. Chafik Chraïbi Is Leading The Charge For Safe, Legal Abortion in Morocco". HuffPost. 2015-05-15. Retrieved 2024-03-11.
- ^ News, Sara Zouiten-Morocco World. "Moroccan Association Declares Day of Mourning for Minor Dead After Abortion". www.moroccoworldnews.com. Retrieved 2024-03-11.
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has generic name (help) - ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2019-10-23.
- ^ "المغرب: الملك محمد السادس يصدر عفوا عن الصحافية هاجر الريسوني المسجونة بسبب "الإجهاض"". فرانس 24 / France 24 (in Arabic). 2019-10-16. Retrieved 2019-10-25.
- ^ "The Moroccan women fighting daily sexual harassment". BBC News. 10 October 2016.
- ^ "Morocco bans forced marriage and sexual violence - BBC News". BBC News. 12 September 2018. Retrieved 2018-09-13.
- ^ app creation - no external links
- ^ "Morocco: New app that rates places based on sexual harassment". en.royanews.tv. Retrieved 2024-03-11.
- ^ external link about contraception needs a citation
- ^ a ref about education
- ^ external link about MAFP
External links
Media related to Women of Morocco at Wikimedia Commons
- Exhibition catalogue of historic photographs of Women of Morocco, by the House of Photography, Marrakesh
- Morocco women