Blog 3- Sexual Orientation or Gender Roles

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One identity that differs from my own and stood out to me during our time in Morocco relates to gender roles and how they shape behavior in public spaces. Gender roles are the expectations societies place on individuals based on their perceived gender, influencing how people act, communicate, and participate in daily life. According to UN Women, social and cultural norms strongly shape how men and women experience public life, including differences in visibility, voice, and opportunity.

One societal issue connected to gender roles is how these expectations can shape who feels comfortable occupying public spaces and how individuals express themselves. In many cultures, gender norms influence everything from communication style to social presence. These patterns can reinforce certain behaviors over time, shaping how men and women interact in both social and professional settings.

During our time in Morocco, one thing I noticed was the way public spaces like cafés were often dominated by men. We frequently saw groups of men sitting outside cafés talking, socializing, and spending time in public areas, while women were much less visible in those same spaces. This stood out to me because it felt different from what I am used to seeing in the United States, where public spaces tend to be more mixed.

I also noticed differences in communication styles. In group interactions and public settings, men often appeared more outwardly expressive, talkative, and assertive in conversations, while women tended to be more reserved, composed, and quieter in their presence. These are just general observations, but they made me more aware of how cultural expectations can influence behavior in subtle but consistent ways.

What stood out to me most was not just the differences themselves, but how normalized they seemed in everyday life. It did not feel like anyone was consciously acting differently. It seemed like these roles were built into how social life is structured. Seeing this made me think more deeply about how gender roles are not only about formal rights or laws, but also about everyday habits, comfort levels, and social expectations.

Personally, this experience made me reflect on how differently public life can be organized across cultures. In the US, we are more used to seeing mixed-gender social spaces where men and women interact more freely in public. Observing a different pattern in Morocco helped me realize that gender roles are often expressed in small, everyday behaviors rather than obvious rules. It also made me think about how much of what we consider normal is shaped by where we grow up.

Overall, this experience helped me better understand how gender roles influence visibility, communication, and social participation in public life. It showed me that cultural norms are powerful in shaping how people interact, even in something as simple as sitting in a café.


UN Women. (2024). Gender social norms and equality. https://www.unwomen.org

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. (2024). Social institutions and gender index (SIGI): Morocco profile. https://www.oecd.org







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