Blog #1: Race, Ethnicity, Culture or Religion

During my time in Morocco, one cultural difference that stood out to me was the presence of portraits of King Mohammed VI in public spaces. I first noticed them in Casablanca, but as we traveled through Rabat and Tangier, I continued seeing the same portrait displayed in hotels, businesses, and restaurants. Coming from the United States, where political leaders are not commonly displayed in everyday spaces, this immediately stood out to me.

The identity I focused on for this reflection is Morocco’s collectivist cultural identity, which differs from the more individualistic culture I am used to in the United States. In my previous classes, I have learned how individualistic cultures tend to emphasize the individual or “I,” while collectivist cultures place greater importance on community, social cohesion, and respect for authority. One article I read explained that Moroccan society often values social unity, hierarchy, and loyalty to the broader community (Aruna et al., 2018). Tying this back to the portrait of King Mohammed VI, I began to see how displays of leadership are more normalized in Morocco and how the king’s image may represent less as political propaganda and more as symbols of national identity and unity. Now, I see them more as reflections of this collectivist culture and identity, representing deeper cultural values connected to community and social cohesion. 

Another idea that helped me understand this different identity was understanding Morocco’s emphasis on stability and modernization. An article I read described Morocco as one of the more stable countries in North Africa and explained how King Mohammed VI is often viewed as a symbol of modernization and national continuity (Hougua et al., 2018). I especially thought about this during our visit to Tanger Med port, where we learned how much Morocco has expanded economically and globally. 

One societal issue connected to this identity is the social pressure to publicly display respect for the monarchy. Seeing the king’s portrait displayed so consistently made me wonder what happens if someone privately disagrees with the monarchy or chooses not to display the portrait in their business. Even if the portraits are not legally required everywhere, there may still be pressure to conform because of this representation of stability, modernization, and national pride the king may hold for many individuals. I feel like this creates a sort of tension or contrast between personal beliefs and opinions and collective social expectations.

Our tour guide in the medina in Tangier explained that many women who wear hijabs see it as a personal choice and expression of faith rather than something forced upon them. It reminded me how easy it is to make assumptions about another culture from an outside perspective. Similarly, I initially viewed the king’s portraits mainly as political displays, but now I see that many Moroccans may view them as symbols of respect, unity, and cultural identity. 

Hougua, B. A., Rachid, E. A., & Hind, S. (2018). The authoritarian spectrum through the prism of individualism/collectivism: Lessons for political socialization in Moroccan society. Contemporary Arab Affairs, 11(3), 47–67. https://doi.org/10.1525/caa.2018.113003

Zohri, A., Chandra, A., Harper, J. S., & Kennouda, S. (2018). Ethics across cultures: A comparison of ethical perceptions in the United States and Morocco. SAM Advanced Management Journal, 83(4), 17.