• fr Français
  • en English
  • ar العربية
About us
  • In-depth
    • All
    • Features
    • Files
    Greece: Female-led initiative proves we can take our sexual health into our own hands

    Greece: Female-led initiative proves we can take our sexual health into our own hands

    Palestine: With “liberated” sperm, the impossible becomes possible

    Palestine: With “liberated” sperm, the impossible becomes possible

    Cybersexism and online abuse: the case of unwanted penis photos

    Cybersexism and online abuse: the case of unwanted penis photos

    “An experience I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy…” Lebanon’s prisons: yet another space for the torture of women

    “An experience I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy…” Lebanon’s prisons: yet another space for the torture of women

    “Habibi”: Stories of Love and Resistance

    “Habibi”: Stories of Love and Resistance

    Trending Tags

    • Women in rural areas
    • Transgenderism
    • Abortion and SRHR
    • Safe spaces
    • Women and prison
    • Gynecological violence
  • On the move
    On everyday sexism: an interview with feminist philosopher Lorenzo Gasparrini (2/2)

    On everyday sexism: an interview with feminist philosopher Lorenzo Gasparrini (2/2)

    On everyday sexism: an interview with feminist philosopher Lorenzo Gasparrini (1/2)

    On everyday sexism: an interview with feminist philosopher Lorenzo Gasparrini (1/2)

    The story of MedFemiNiswiya: a feminist response from the Mediterranean

    The story of MedFemiNiswiya: a feminist response from the Mediterranean

    Interview with queer activist Marianne Chbat: “Our presence in academic settings is a militant act”

  • Portraits

    Interview with queer activist Marianne Chbat: “Our presence in academic settings is a militant act”

    Hela Ouardi « Le corps féminin était perçu comme un avatar du territoire ennemi »

    Hela Ouardi: “The female body perceived as an avatar of enemy territory”

    Ons Jabeur: A Tunisian dream come true

    A personal testimony by Shireen Abu Aqleh

    A personal testimony by Shireen Abu Aqleh

  • Creations
    • All
    • Reviews
    • Visual Arts
    Literary journeys through the new female mythology... Portrait III: Penelope

    Literary journeys through the new female mythology... Portrait III: Penelope

    Literary journeys through the new female mythology…  Portrait II: Medea

    Literary journeys through the new female mythology… Portrait II: Medea

    Literary journeys through the new female mythology…  Portrait I: Cassandra

    Literary journeys through the new female mythology… Portrait I: Cassandra

    Back to the future: the contemporaneity of “Noi e il nostro corpo” (Our body, ourselves)

    Back to the future: the contemporaneity of “Noi e il nostro corpo” (Our body, ourselves)

  • Opinion
    Corn and heels: The first women-led strike against dictator Franco

    Corn and heels: The first women-led strike against dictator Franco

    Pair the word hijab with compulsory so we can have a proper discussion about it

    Love me Tinder

    Love me Tinder

    Mental suffering and gender

    Mental suffering and gender

  • Multimedia
    The story of MedFemiNiswiya: a feminist response from the Mediterranean

    Medfeminiswiya network meeting in Tunis

    Testimonies on abortion in the MENA region: collected by RAWSA

    Testimonies on abortion in the MENA region: collected by RAWSA

  • Country context
No Result
View All Result
BLOGS
Medfeminiswiya
  • In-depth
    • All
    • Features
    • Files
    Greece: Female-led initiative proves we can take our sexual health into our own hands

    Greece: Female-led initiative proves we can take our sexual health into our own hands

    Palestine: With “liberated” sperm, the impossible becomes possible

    Palestine: With “liberated” sperm, the impossible becomes possible

    Cybersexism and online abuse: the case of unwanted penis photos

    Cybersexism and online abuse: the case of unwanted penis photos

    “An experience I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy…” Lebanon’s prisons: yet another space for the torture of women

    “An experience I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy…” Lebanon’s prisons: yet another space for the torture of women

    “Habibi”: Stories of Love and Resistance

    “Habibi”: Stories of Love and Resistance

    Trending Tags

    • Women in rural areas
    • Transgenderism
    • Abortion and SRHR
    • Safe spaces
    • Women and prison
    • Gynecological violence
  • On the move
    On everyday sexism: an interview with feminist philosopher Lorenzo Gasparrini (2/2)

    On everyday sexism: an interview with feminist philosopher Lorenzo Gasparrini (2/2)

    On everyday sexism: an interview with feminist philosopher Lorenzo Gasparrini (1/2)

    On everyday sexism: an interview with feminist philosopher Lorenzo Gasparrini (1/2)

    The story of MedFemiNiswiya: a feminist response from the Mediterranean

    The story of MedFemiNiswiya: a feminist response from the Mediterranean

    Interview with queer activist Marianne Chbat: “Our presence in academic settings is a militant act”

  • Portraits

    Interview with queer activist Marianne Chbat: “Our presence in academic settings is a militant act”

    Hela Ouardi « Le corps féminin était perçu comme un avatar du territoire ennemi »

    Hela Ouardi: “The female body perceived as an avatar of enemy territory”

    Ons Jabeur: A Tunisian dream come true

    A personal testimony by Shireen Abu Aqleh

    A personal testimony by Shireen Abu Aqleh

  • Creations
    • All
    • Reviews
    • Visual Arts
    Literary journeys through the new female mythology... Portrait III: Penelope

    Literary journeys through the new female mythology... Portrait III: Penelope

    Literary journeys through the new female mythology…  Portrait II: Medea

    Literary journeys through the new female mythology… Portrait II: Medea

    Literary journeys through the new female mythology…  Portrait I: Cassandra

    Literary journeys through the new female mythology… Portrait I: Cassandra

    Back to the future: the contemporaneity of “Noi e il nostro corpo” (Our body, ourselves)

    Back to the future: the contemporaneity of “Noi e il nostro corpo” (Our body, ourselves)

  • Opinion
    Corn and heels: The first women-led strike against dictator Franco

    Corn and heels: The first women-led strike against dictator Franco

    Pair the word hijab with compulsory so we can have a proper discussion about it

    Love me Tinder

    Love me Tinder

    Mental suffering and gender

    Mental suffering and gender

  • Multimedia
    The story of MedFemiNiswiya: a feminist response from the Mediterranean

    Medfeminiswiya network meeting in Tunis

    Testimonies on abortion in the MENA region: collected by RAWSA

    Testimonies on abortion in the MENA region: collected by RAWSA

  • Country context
About us
Medfeminiswiya
About us
Mosa'ab Elshamy AP

Feminism in Morocco: a brief overview

Since the 2000s, the status of women in Morocco has seen encouraging progress. Democratic openness has fostered the emergence of the movement of women, just as it has, conversely, contributed to the democratic transition. However, while progress is undeniable, gender parity has not been achieved and remains a major challenge for the country.

Lina Meskine by Lina Meskine
19 April 2021
in Country Context, Morocco
74 5
0
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

This post is also available in: Français (French) العربية (Arabic)

The feminist movement in Morocco

In Morocco, the women’s movement has been positioning itself as a new strong political actor. This has largely contributed to the enactment major decisions, the renewal of political dialogue and the expansion of civic and political participation. The family code reforms, called the Moudawana reforms (2004), were experienced as a great victory. Similarly, those related to the labor code (2003) and the penal code (2002) were essentially based on proposals presented by collectives and networks of feminist associations.

It was in the 1980s, in a context of democratic struggle, that the feminist movement in Morocco was established as a movement. During this prolific period, the so-called historical pioneering feminists have accumulated victories, such as the reform of the Moudawana mentioned above (2004), considered to be a historic win for the feminist movement.

The year 2011 marked a turning point for the feminist movement in Morocco. It was the year of popular uprisings, like in most other Arab countries. In the Moroccan protests, a large participation of women was recorded, women from the working class, until then largely considered apolitical. For once, the plurality of feminism was emerging: a diverse feminism, less elitist and a feminism that takes into consideration the issues of the working class. But it was also the peak of Islamic feminism, a very popular strand of feminism among the middle-classes, and previously excluded by feminism.

The victories of the feminist movement did not take long to unfold. Following the 2011 uprising, the king announced in March 2011 the draft revision of the constitution, integrating numerous feminist demands, including the principle of parity. That same year, gender-mixed national lists in the legislative elections helped achieve this objective. In the following years, more precisely in 2014, the amendment to paragraph 2 of section 457 repealed the provision that previously allowed a rapist to marry his minor victim. In 2015, article 453 provides for the expansion of cases of authorisation for abortion. In 2015 too, the laws relating to local authorities set a minimum quota of seats for women: 27% at municipal level and 30% at regional level.

More recently, the use of digital technology has enabled the emergence of new forms of expression for the feminist movement, emphasizing the role of the individual. On social networks, the movement no longer speaks on behalf of a political party, a union or an association but as a movement in its own right. This has contributed to an uninhibited freedom of speech. Actions have become more ad hoc and target specific issues, generating real media events. This is the case, for example, of Hajar El Raissouni, a journalist convicted for illegal abortion in 2019. Thanks to social networks, a general mobilisation and a wave of support were organised including that of the collective 490 “Hors-la-loi du Maroc”. The collective advocates for the defence of individual freedoms and won the Simone de Beauvoir Award for the Freedom of Women in January 2020.

Forms of discrimination against women

Despite the noticeable progress, the feminist movement in Morocco still faces major challenges. Even though laws were adopted in favor of parity, the latter is far from being achieved. From the 2011 constitution until this day, the legislative work to harmonise laws with the constitution has been slow and reluctant. There is considerable mismatch between the constitution and its implementation, and between societal changes and the laws in force. Morocco’s commitments to equality are indeed still far from being materialized.

At political levels, women remain under-represented (21%), and their access to positions of responsibility is still very low (15%). Moreover, several codes governing civil rights still maintain discrimination against women, particularly with regards to child marriage and polygamy.

In terms of economic, social and cultural rights, the educational reform incorporates gender equality as a key objective. Nevertheless, the disparities between rural and urban remain constant. The rural female population is strongly affected by illiteracy and school dropout. In addition, while the employment of women and their education has generally increased, women remain increasingly exposed to unemployment. Today, 72.8% of Moroccan women are unemployed.

Another major challenge concerns women's sexual and reproductive health. A major dysfunction threatens women in rural areas, where unsupervised childbirth and clandestine abortion continue to take place.

Lastly, there is an absence of effective legislation combating violence against women. Today, 54.4% of Moroccan women are victims of violence, mostly domestic. The law is silent on certain forms of violence (marital, moralistic, etc.), and access to protection institutions for women remains difficult and limited.

Five decades after the emergence of the feminist movement in Morocco, the fight for women's rights, equality and parity remains a long struggle. More than ever, the struggle of women in Morocco needs support, promotion and exposure.

 

Feature image by: Mosa'ab Elshamy AP

 

Lina Meskine

Lina Meskine

Lina Meskine is specialized in architecture and is passionate about writing and journalism, which she explores as a self-taught person. Based in Rabat, she collaborates for several media, including Onorient: a platform that promotes the artistic momentum in the Arab world, Web Arts Resistances, or the magazine A+E: Architecture and Environment in Morocco.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

J'accepte les termes et conditions et la Politique de confidentialité .

Medfeminiswiya

Medfeminiswiya is a feminist network that brings together women journalists working in the fields of media and content production in the Mediterranean region.

Newsletter


    Follow us

    Browse topics


    • In-depth
    • Files
    • Features
    • On the move
    • Portraits
    • Opinion

    • Creations
    • Visual Arts
    • Reviews
    • Multimedia
    • Country Context
    • Blogs
    • About us
    • Our community
    • Our partners
    • Become a member
    • Editorial charter
    • Disclaimer

    © 2022 Medfeminiswiya - Mediterranean Network for Feminist Information

    • fr Français
    • en English
    • ar العربية
    • In-depth
    • On the move
    • Portraits
    • Creations
    • Opinion
    • Multimedia
    • Blogs
    No Result
    View All Result

    © 2022 Medfeminiswiya - Mediterranean Network for Feminist Information

    Welcome Back!

    Login to your account below

    Forgotten Password?

    Retrieve your password

    Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

    Log In

    Add New Playlist

    Ce site n'utilise pas de cookies. This website does not use cookies. هذا الموقع لا يستخدم ملفات تعريف الارتباط.