From the busy markets in Morocco, artisans with disabilities often stand out. Not just because of their craft ships, but because of the stories impeded into every piece they create. Their work isn’t only about beauty and tradition; it’s about their survival and drive to carve out a living in a third-world that doesn’t always provide opportunities for them. While the recent progress in reducing poverty in Morocco has been impressive, with less than 9% of the population considered “poor” compared to 16.2% a decade ago, the reality remains that poverty is still disproportionate (Achy, 2010). For many, disability is not physical, poverty itself becomes a sort of disability causing a limit to opportunity. And with each item observed—whether it has been a handwoven rug, carved hairbrush or a piece of pottery—it is more than just a product. It’s has been the result of their determination of long hours to earn a fair income and put food on the table.
To the tourists passing through, these items can sometimes be reduced to little more than a quick souvenir. But for the artisan, it’s a symbol of self-reliance in a society that overlook both disabled bodies and poor ones. The personal dedication behind the item often gets lists in the transaction, blinding the hours and days behind the craft. And there’s a gap between the artisans intention and the tourists’ perception.
References
Achy, Lahcen. Morocco’s Experience With Poverty Reduction: Lessons for the Arab World. Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, 2010. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/resrep12923. Accessed 19 May 2025.
Good observations, Isac. The disconnect between getting a good price and the actual value of the labor that went into the craft is a subject that really hurts my bargaining skills if I think too much about it!
ReplyDeleteThis is a really important aspect of the markets to think about! Im always trying to haggle down to get the best price, but at what point does that exceed the value of the labor that went into it? Especially when it comes to your point of disabled people trying to make a living in a society quick to overlook their drive for fair wage and craftsmanship -- whats paying a couple more dollars and not getting the 'best price' when the money is often far more disposable for us tourists?
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