Blog 3: Sexual Orientation or Gender Roles

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 Blog 3: Sexual Orientation or Gender Roles

During our time in country, one thing that has particularly stood out to me is the complete lack of public displays of affection. These displays, such as a kiss on the cheek, hand holding, hugging, or putting an arm around someone, are so commonplace in the United States that no one gives them a second glance. In Morocco, however, relationships and sexuality appear to be treated much more privately. This observation prompted me to think more deeply about how homosexuality is viewed and expressed within Moroccan society. Since I have not seen any heterosexual PDA, I have certainly not observed any homosexual PDA.


Morocco is a predominantly Muslim country, and cultural and religious values strongly influence public attitudes surrounding sexuality and relationships. According to the Pew Research Center (2020), attitudes toward homosexuality tend to be less accepting in countries where religion plays a major role in daily life and cultural traditions. Supporting this, a 2025 survey discussed by Bladi.net found that nearly 80% of Moroccans surveyed expressed disapproval of homosexuality, showing how traditional beliefs continue to shape public opinion. The chart from Equaldex that I included as Figure 1 below further reinforces how attitudes toward homosexuality in Morocco remain largely unfavorable over time, but only reporting until 2022. The second chart I included displays the treatment of LGBTQ+ individuals by peers, reporting lower percentages of equal treatment in all facets.  It is difficult to include actual photos that I have taken in country because of the lack of visibility of heterosexual relationships and public displays of affection in general. 


One societal issue connected to this identity is the difficulty LGBTQ+ individuals may face when balancing personal identity with cultural expectations. In the United States, sexuality is often openly discussed, debated, and publicly expressed, while Moroccan society appears to place much greater emphasis on privacy. While walking through streets, restaurants, and just looking out the bus window, I noticed that even heterosexual couples rarely showed physical affection publicly. This made me realize that public expression surrounding relationships is viewed differently here overall, but these expectations may create even greater challenges for LGBTQ+ individuals who already face legal and social struggles. 


Personally, this experience has challenged me to think more critically about how culture shapes what people consider acceptable. Before coming to Morocco, I never really considered how much openness surrounding sexuality varies across cultures because I was so used to American social norms. It was also somewhat on my mind that LGBTQ+ individuals would face greater barriers here, but I truthfully did not think it was to the extent that my research illustrated. It is genuinely sad to think about people having to deny who they are or live a secret life because of the way that I value identity and self expression. However, I do realize that these differing values are definitely a triggering event for me. Growing up with an LGBTQ+ sibling, I have always believed that we should be accepting of all identities, so visiting a country where I know someone I love would not be able to express themselves to the fullest extent is certainly difficult. However, I am trying to empathize with the culture here and employ the leadership practices we have learned to overcome my frustration. Overall, learning more about homosexuality in Morocco helped me recognize how deeply culture, religion, law, and social expectations can influence the way people express identity and relationships. 


Figure 1

Figure 2

References

Bladi.net. (2025, May 24). *Survey reveals Moroccan views on homosexuality, religion, and society.* Bladi.net. https://en.bladi.net/survey-reveals-moroccan-views-homosexuality-religion-and-society%2C114897.html

Equaldex. (n.d.). *Acceptance of homosexuality in Morocco.* Equaldex. https://www.equaldex.com/survey-topic/6/acceptance-of-homosexuality?region=morocco

Pew Research Center. (2020). *The global divide on homosexuality persists.* https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2020/06/25/global-divide-on-homosexuality-persists/


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