Blog 3: Gender Roles: Body Acceptance.
The social contract of modest dressing in Morocco and other Muslim countries is something I grappled with for almost the entire duration of our trip. I felt that it was too hot to wear so many clothes, or that it was an impingement on my own bodily autonomy and freedoms, and a relic of a patriarchal society. While some of these things may have some relevance and truth to them, I had also only skimmed the surface of the other functions of the style of dress.
The first thing I realized was that the long sleeves and pants, as well as a hijab or scarf, also function as effective sun protection. You don't have to wear sunscreen if your skin isn't exposed in the first place. The most poignant aspect, however, was the effect dressing in such a manner had on my relationship with my body. Within the United States, there has been a recent pushback on the movement termed with "body positivity", as Ozempic and other semaglutide cocktails become available for mass-market use. In Western societies where we are able to show as much or as little of our bodies as we would like, we are constantly faced with the reflections of our own appearance, as well as others around us. For individuals already struggling with negative body image, it can be difficult to exist in this space without avoiding comparisons or feelings of inferiority based on a strict beauty ideal.
The United States also boasts highly inflated rates of obesity, with adults sitting at prevalence of 40.3%, and children and adolescents at 21.1% (American Hospital Association, 2026). In contrast, while faced with rising rates of obesity, the current adult rate is 13.8%, much lower than that of the USA. This is mostly tied to differences in lifestyle and diet, but there are more similarities than differences when it comes to the attitudes surrounding body perception. A study from the Review of Epidemiology and Public Health done on Moroccan students delves into these differences: for BMI status of the students surveyed, 16.7% were classified as underweight, 72% as normal weight, 8.1% overweight, and 3.2% obese. While these statistics seem relatively normal for a representative population, the most shocking statistic comes with the realization that 40.3% of respondents had an inaccurate perception of their own weight status. Only 30.2% of the students were satisfied with their current body image. (Boutahar et al., 2019)
I synthesized these statistics with my own experiences in Morocco, specifically in the Hammam. Wearing loose, modest clothing and being around other women dressed similarly removed the bulk of concentration on my own body as well of those of others, even though I regard myself to have a pretty good relationship with my body image. Inside the Hammam, there are women of all shapes and sizes, and no one is looking at each other in any sort of way conducive to comparison. It is simply a relaxation ritual, one that is sacred enough as to pass over trivial perceptions of the body. I found it highly comforting to be surrounded by other women existing in their natural state, and it was overall a positive experience for me. While others may not have the same feelings of acceptance, I felt that the practices I experienced while in Morocco were beneficial for my relationship with my physical body.
Boutahar, K., Chetoui, A., Kaoutar, K., Najimi, M., Chigr, F. (2019) Anthropometric status and body image perception among Moroccan university students. Revue d'Epidemiologie et de Sante Publique. 67(5). Elsevier. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0398762019304341#sec0065
American Hospital Association. 2026. CDC finds record-high obesity rates for children, teens, as adults have slight decline. https://www.aha.org/news/headline/2026-02-26-cdc-finds-record-high-obesity-rates-children-teens-adults-have-slight-decline
I think this is a really insightful observation that I can definitely relate to now that you’ve brought it to my attention. Before coming to Morocco, I viewed modest dress standards primarily as a sign of respect to God and potentially somewhat oppressive to women, but it quickly became clear that this was only partially accurate. Through anecdotal conversations with peers and my own observations, especially regarding the practical benefits like sun protection, I’ve come to see the practice in a more nuanced way. I thought your additional commentary was very interesting as I definitely noticed a difference in the emphasis on comparison between Moroccan and American cultures. Your point about body image in relation to loose clothing and hammams was something I hadn’t previously considered, but now feels very accurate. After doing some further research, I found it interesting that body image dissatisfaction has historically been more characteristic of Western societies, but has more recently been increasing in non-Western Arab countries like Morocco (Anthropological Researches and Studies, 2026). This aligns with the rise of globalization and social media, which can intensify comparison, and I’m curious to see whether overall body satisfaction will remain higher than in Western societies as these influences continue to grow.
ReplyDeleteZakaria, R., Amor, H., Baali, A., & Elkhoudri, N. (2021). Body image avoidance questionnaire and associated factors: A study of a group of Moroccan adolescents. Anthropological Researches and Studies, 11(1), 129–138. https://doi.org/10.26758/11.1.9
I found your blog topic and reflection very interesting. The concept of modesty through clothing and behavior throughout Morocco has been something I have also observed throughout our trip. I especially appreciated your point about how modest dressing shaped your own experience of body awareness because I thought that was a very valuable personal insight. Previously, I had only viewed modest clothing as something connected to religion or psychological safety. However, being in Morocco has shown me that for many women it can also be a choice connected to comfort, culture, and personal values. I learned that many women seem to wear modest clothing because it is something they personally value and choose to uphold. I did my own research on this idea and found an article explaining that modest clothing in Muslim cultures can function as more than restriction, but also as a social and embodied practice connected to identity and interaction with others (Wagner 2017). Reading your reflection alongside this research helped me better understand how clothing can shape someone’s relationship with their body in ways that are not always noticeable from an outside perspective. I also never really thought about the effects modest clothing could have on body image and comparison, so your discussion about this in Western contexts was really interesting to me. In the United States, conversations about body image are constantly circulating through social media, fashion, and beauty standards, making it difficult to avoid comparison. Your reflection made me think more deeply about how environments and clothing norms can influence the way people view themselves and others.
ReplyDeleteWagner, L. B. (2017). Mattering Moralities: Learning Corporeal Modesty through Muslim Diasporic Clothing Practices. Social Sciences, 6(3), 97. https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci6030097
Hey Charlotte I really like the way you took your blog! Your reflection made me think more deeply about the relationship between modest clothing and body image, especially in comparison to the culture in the United States. I really appreciated how you discussed the Hammam experience and how being surrounded by women in a nonjudgmental environment helped reduce comparison and focus less on physical appearance. One additional piece of information that connects to your blog is a study on British Muslim women that found women who wore the hijab often reported lower levels of body dissatisfaction and less pressure to meet Western beauty standards. The researchers also suggested that modest clothing may help shift attention away from physical appearance and reduce the influence of unrealistic media ideals (Swami et al., 2014). I think this research along with your experience in Morocco shows how modest dress can positively affect body image and self-perception. I think this topic is also important within the topic of gender roles and bodily autonomy because many can view being modest as something forced onto women but in many cases in Morocco is something people choose.
ReplyDeleteSwami, V., Miah, J., Noorani, N., & Taylor, D. (2014). Is the hijab protective? An investigation of body image and related constructs among British Muslim women. British Journal of Psychology, 105(3), 352–363. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjop.12045