Sexual Orientation or Gender Roles - Markeila Howard

 During my time in Morocco, I had the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the identity of Moroccan women. A perspective very different from my own. What struck me most was the complex and evolving role of women in Moroccan society as they navigate the balance between tradition and modern change. Moroccan women live in a society deeply rooted in Islamic traditions, yet one that is also undergoing significant transformation. According to the World Bank, Morocco has made substantial progress in gender equality, particularly in education and legal rights. Throughout the trip, several people mentioned that women now have more legal protections, especially in the area of divorce. In most of the places we visited, it was predominantly women who were hard at work—doing the tedious jobs like cleaning and sorting out bad fruit—while men handled tasks involving heavy equipment. These women challenged the stereotypes I previously held about what life is like for women in a traditional Muslim society. One observation that stood out to me during the visit was the contrast in how public spaces are used by gender. In many towns, I saw large groups of men sitting in cafés for hours, talking, smoking, and watching the street life pass by. Meanwhile, many women were walking past with children or shopping bags. This contrast made me reflect on how leisure and labor are divided in public view, and how much invisible work women perform each day. My experience in Morocco taught me that identity is not static. The identity of Moroccan women is shaped by religion, history, law, and family, but it is also being redefined by education, global exposure, and the consistent determination they show in their daily lives.

 

    The World Bank. Morocco. The World Bank Group, https://www.worldbank.org/en/country/morocco. Accessed 22 May 2025.