Morocco Time

I spotted this article on Maghrebia.com, and ooo! ooo! ooo!, am I excited to read this book!

“Loubna Hanna Skalli recently published Through a Local Prism: Gender, Globalisation and Identity in Moroccan Women’s Magazines. It discusses the gender, poverty and the effects of globalisation on Arab and Muslim societies.”

I found this question particularly interesting:

“Magharebia: You’ve noticed a gender dimension in Moroccan poverty. What is it?

Skalli: Poverty is experienced differently by both sexes. It is not just about income. Poverty has multidimensional levels. There is poverty of resources and opportunities. There are laws that do not protect women, and poverty that results from their lack of education, employment, and health services.

The assumption is that women benefit from gender-neutral development programmes. This is misleading and costly. Reducing Moroccan women’s poverty should be multidimensional and causes of women’s poverty should be addressed.

Morocco is on the right track. For example, Morocco’s Mudawana (family code) girls’ education and training programmes are laudable. Women’s increased political participation is putting women’s issues on the national agenda.

But the challenge is daunting. The situation of rural women is still precarious because of the cycle of marginalisation.”

Read the full article here.

Despite the somewhat odd title - you’ll get it when you see the masthead - this blog is proving to be a good read.

The poor Moroccan puts himself in the role of petitioner, sensing the possibility of a future payoff and carefully cultivating it, biding his time. Even among Moroccans themselves, the well-off are likely to be sheltered from the way things really are among their poorer cousins, for much the same reasons. The poorest Moroccans put out their best tea glasses, wear their best clothes, and spread the table as best they can for their guests. This is stoic pride, the generosity of tradition, and the subservience of a starving dog who doesn’t want to bite the hand that might one day feed him.

I’ve just finished Morocco: The Islamist Awakening and Other Challenges, by Marvine Howe. It’s the sort of book that I know I’ll have to read at least one or two more times, just to absorb all the information - and I don’t normally need to do that. So, for all of you out there who have been bombarded with questions from family members and friends (sometimes even strangers), along the lines of “If Morocco is so modern, why do so many terrorists come from there?” - this book is for you. Yes, the preceding question is kind of silly, but there’s been many times when I wondered myself how Morocco had gotten to where it is today, and what turns and twists it took along its religious and political path. (more…)

Every single day in this country, I see or hear something that makes me:

A: stop breathing

B: want to throw up

C: cry

D: all of the above

Read this BBC article about an orphan boy who lives in a rubbish heap outside of Rabat, and you’ll know what I mean.