Both Anou and the women’s cooperative are centered on empowering women by giving them the chance to create and sell their handmade products, whether that means contributing to a larger organization or having more control over their own small business. They also both create a sense of community, offering women a social network alongside economic opportunity, and their work tends to focus on handmade artisan goods like rugs or leather products. Compared to the souks, though, their business model feels more direct, which is the goal. Rather than relying heavily on merchants who buy from artisans and resell at a profit (only benefiting them), the cooperative model keeps women more connected to the selling process and the value of their work, ensuring women earn around 80% of their profit. At the same time, there are still similarities with the souks, especially in how both rely on the added value of craftsmanship and, to some extent, price negotiation (my personal favorite activity), even if the cooperative we visited doesn’t bargain nearly as much for items.

As someone with an outrageous shopping addiction, I’m naturally drawn to the souks, where I can wander for hours and negotiate my way to what feels like the best possible price. There’s something fun and almost competitive about the whole process that makes shopping feel like an experience. Some of the shopkeepers have even commented on my persistence and bargaining skills, which I consider a win. At the same time, though, as a feminist who genuinely cares about supporting women and ensuring they’re fairly compensated for their work, I really respect and admire the cooperative’s model. It prioritizes maximizing the artisans’ earnings and giving them more control over their products, which makes it feel more ethical, even if it lacks the thrill of bargaining. In a way, these two perspectives feel like they’re constantly competing with each other. One is driven by the excitement of getting a deal, and the other by the desire to shop more consciously and responsibly. This tension has made me more aware of the impact behind my choices, and while I may not completely give up the souk experience, I’m starting to think more critically about where my money goes and who it supports.