CAES Morocco: Leading Across Differences

 Views on sexual orientation differ significantly between Morocco and the US due to contrasting cultural value, religious influences, legal systems, and social attitudes. According to the American Psychological Association, sexual orientation is defined by patterns of emotional, romantic, and/or sexual attractions to men, women, or both as well as a sense of identity in terms of that attraction.  In the US, everyone's individual attitude toward people belonging to the LGBTQ+ community differs because not everyone has the same beliefs or culture. The US places an emphasis on individual rights, equality, and inclusion which has led to the acceptance of these identities over time, and some political and cultural movements have helped support this movement toward acceptance compared to countries with stricter traditional or authoritarian systems (Sweigart et al., 2024). This acceptance however is relative to the US overall not regions such as the Southern US. While there are many ...

After going to the University and interacting with men and women my age, I became curious about how younger people in Morocco view gender roles today. After reading the article “Gender stereotypes and youth voices in Morocco: masculinity, law, and change,” I learned that many young Moroccans are beginning to question traditional expectations placed on both men and women. Although older generations often believe women should focus mainly on the home while men provide financially, younger people are shifting their belief to equal roles in relationships, education, and careers. One point that stood out to me in the article was how young people are openly discussing the pressure gender stereotypes place on them. Young men explained that they feel expected to always appear strong and financially successful, while young women discussed the limitations they still face in society. One person in the study explained, “young people today want relationships based on partnership and mutual respect,...

  Although the United States and Morocco differ greatly in their laws on LGBTQ+ individuals, both countries show that legal status alone does not determine social acceptance. In Morocco, homosexuality is illegal under the Penal Code and can be punished with a maximum of 3 years in jail . This law is strict and several citizens and foreigners have been detained for practicing homosexuality (Human Dignity Trust, 2026). Because of its strict enforcement, homosexual couples are forced into secrecy. Thus, there is little social acceptance of homosexual couples in Morocco. In contrast, the United States legalized gay marriages in 2015, but sexual orientation has been under legal protected from discrimination by Title VII since 1964 which prevents discrimination in employement. The supreme court further clarified this in 2020 in the Bostock v. Clayton County case (Cole, 2020). Although there is more legal protection in America, homosexual couples are still on the receiving end of discrimi...

  While in Morocco, we have had several guides – most of them being men. One thing that I have noticed about the mannerisms of the majority of the men here is how affectionate they can be towards one another; meanwhile in America, this would be mistaken for homosexuality. While this is something that is completely normal to them, some societal issues could arise that are just not spoken about. In Morocco, it is highly illegal to be gay. Because men so freely display affection towards one another, those who are a part of LGBTQ will obviously feel pressure to hide their identity, but furthermore there may never be evolution of these laws.  There were several moments where affection is displayed between those of the same gender. When touring the ENA school, I noticed that the men there will often walk hand in hand and the women will kiss each other on the head. I was curious about these displays of affection as this is relatively uncommon in America. While it is common for fe...

  Social status of Amazigh (berbers) Throughout our tours, I met guides who emphasized their Amazigh ethnicity. At first, I felt that they were proud of their origins, people, and culture, and I’m sure this is true. However, I also feel that they make these emphatic declarations because they feel marginalized and shamed, leading them to stress this part of themselves even more. I was most certain of this when the tour guide in Fes said that the king had trouble garnering the people’s support when he married his Arab wife because the marriage was not representative of the majority ethnicity. After the backlash, the king revealed his Amazigh lineage. But this begs the question: why wasn’t this always known? Why was he hiding it? In the past, Morocco has consistently tried to assimilate and Arabize the Amazigh people by falsifying their history and promoting other languages, religions, and cultures (Marcus, 2025). The promotion of Darija, French, and other languages over the Amaz...

  As a person with a chronic illness, I was curious to know what the general experience is of those with noncommunicable illnesses in Morocco. I found that, as of the World Health Organization’s findings in 2025, almost 85 percent of all deaths in Morocco are attributed to noncommunicable diseases. 73 percent of all spending on long-term illnesses goes to four main conditions: hypertension, end-stage kidney disease, cancer, and diabetes, and resources remain limited with only 1.5 healthcare workers for every thousand people (WHO, 2025) The Ministry of Health and Social Protection has initiated several programs to build more healthcare infrastructure, including the National Multisectoral Strategy for the Prevention and Control of NCDs, beginning in 2019. This strategy includes the constructions of healthcare facilities around the country, such as oncology centers and reproductive health clinics, and increased screening for noncommunicable illnesses.The Health Reform Strategy, addi...

    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-ma...