After all the lessons we have had so far in politics, religion, and the role of women, more specifically the reforms in these topics, one thing remains consistent. The biggest hurdle is mixing modern policies with traditions. Before coming to Morocco, I wasn’t sure how conservative or progressive the country would be in terms of religion and customs, but I must say, the extent depends on place to place. Casablanca felt a lot less traditional, while Rabat seems to balance development with the old way of life.
On the political landscape, I learned that Morocco places a major emphasis on stability rather than just instant change. Although a lot more progressive policies are being pushed by Gen Z, the country still places a heavy emphasis on the King, also known as the “Commander of the Faithful.” Because Islam is such an important aspect of Moroccan culture, it’s not easy to counteract the teachings in the Quran. One thing I was curious about was the government and their dynamic in serving the country along with the King. Among the Moroccan people, many statistics showed their policies were unfavorable. I got the idea that part of this is due to prioritizing foreign attract for the things like the world cup, while failing to acknowledge many citizen’s basic needs. I’m curious how the monarch and the government coexist together since one is very traditional while the other is pushing a lot more innovation. One thing I really noticed during my stay so far was the traditional elements mixed with more western customs, so I’m interested to see how that will progress in the future with Gen Z and more women having an impact.
I was also very surprised many women who push for more rights are countered by other conservative women. However, I also learned there are two sides to the story, as our professor in her politics discussion explained the strong dynamic women play in Islamic tradition. I learned that women are know as the “head of the house” and subject to most of the major decisions about what goes on in the family. Coming to Morocco, I wasn’t aware of the rivalry among some women and assumed they were more on the same boat when it comes to rights.