Morocco: Gender At Heart Of New Constitution
- 09/06/11
Fatima Sadiqi
The new reforms outlined in the June 2011 Moroccan constitution can be grouped in three major categories: separation of powers, independence of justice, and good governance. However there are other key reforms that have gotten less attention but will have a major impact on Moroccan society, including a recognition of Morocco’s multicultural roots, a greater recognition of gender equality and more freedom of speech.
While the new constitution provides much needed reform in these areas, the real work that needs to happen will be on the ground, in individual communities, translating these constitutional rights from rights on paper into rights in practice. Without a serious commitment to this work, these reforms will be void of meaning.
With these vast reforms, various groups who were previously overlooked or altogether ignored are now finding their issues at the forefront of the country’s politics. Take for example two once-marginalized groups: women and the Berber population (the indigenous peoples of North Africa). Their issues are now at the heart of the new Moroccan constitution.
The fate of women has been closely tied to the fate of the Berber population throughout Morocco’s history. Since the mid-1980s, activists have been increasingly demanding both the legal recognition of Berber as an official language and the legal rights of women.
These two demands are linked. Within Berber communities, women are the ones who preserve and transmit the language due to their family roles educating their children. As fewer women can read and write, they also preserve Berber’s oral tradition and are less likely to learn standard Arabic, the country’s official language.
The new reforms in the constitution institutionalize Berber as an official language (alongside Arabic) and reinforce the presence of this language in education and media. The constitution also institutionalizes gender equality by encouraging the creation of women’s rights organizations and giving women more legal rights – including the right to sue for divorce and to maintain custody over their children even if they remarry. All that is needed now is the political will to enact these gender and language reforms.
The slowness of the implementation of these reforms is largely due to a high rate of female illiteracy, poverty, and pervasive patriarchy, all of which constitute serious barriers to women’s position rising in society and their understanding of the reforms. Since the new Family Code was promulgated in 2004, the state has tried to overcome these barriers by facilitating access to justice by creating information centers for women, providing training sessions on women’s rights for lawyers and judges, creating family tribunals and hiring social workers to help women understand their rights.
The state’s current efforts are welcome but not sufficient. In order for women to be able to take advantage of these reforms, cultural attitudes about gender will have to shift.
Indeed the most important work is done by women’s non-governmental organizations and various feminist groups who not only make the government’s efforts viable but also create their own centers and training sessions for women.
For example, the Democratic Association of Moroccan Women and the Union for Feminine Action both aim to ensure the application of family code reforms by raising women’s own political awareness and alerting judges and lawyers about ways of dealing with culturally sensitive issues.
In the case of the Berber community, the Royal Institute for Amazigh [Berber] Culture (IRCAM) and other Berber NGOs have largely contributed to pushing the Berber issue in constitutional debates. However, the ministries of education and communication have been slow to respond.
In the long term, the implementation of gender and language reforms will need strong political will in the field of education and the media, because these are the two fields that shape individuals’ attitudes about gender and ethnic equality. Without changing attitudes, there will still be cultural resistance to equality. New measures such as providing schools with textbooks that promote gender equality and use both Berber and Arabic, alongside curricula that help foster these same ideals, will not only lead to a democratization of the Moroccan educational system, but also to a more realistic media system.
Additionally, more quality television programs in Berber are needed, as many Berber-speaking people are illiterate. The existing programs need to be augmented and the radio, television and newspaper outlets that have only have limited reach need to be given a wider audience.
If the state takes such measures, the recent reforms can have a real impact on the ground, where it matters.
Fatima Sadiqi is a former Fulbright Scholar and recipient of a Harvard Fellowship. She was appointed as a member of the UN Council for Development Policy (ECOSSOC), and the Administrative Board of the Royal Institute of Amazigh Culture (IRCAM).
Article first published at CGNews
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Comments (23)
0
#1
Everything looks good on paper. —
2011-09-06 08:31
But to implement real change? Good luck! I am now more convinced than ever that M6 and his entourage are not capable or willing to guide Morocco out of the darkness. Besides, I cannot think of any country, ruled by the SAME apparatus for decades, achieving democracy, prosperity, modernity...etc.
And what's even more heartbreaking, there is nothing much we can do. Dictators as a rule, defang any person or party who might become a serious contender to their power. So, we have no one but the status quo-loving royal palace and years and years of the same-o, same-o.
Darn it! These people think that monarchy is a right! Sorry, monarchy is a privilege. and after decades of failures, it's high time to make some serious soul searching.
And what's even more heartbreaking, there is nothing much we can do. Dictators as a rule, defang any person or party who might become a serious contender to their power. So, we have no one but the status quo-loving royal palace and years and years of the same-o, same-o.
Darn it! These people think that monarchy is a right! Sorry, monarchy is a privilege. and after decades of failures, it's high time to make some serious soul searching.
0
#2
COMMENT_TITLE_R E Morocco: Gender At Heart Of New Constitution —
2011-09-06 09:43
separation of powers: What separation? the king holds more power than ever before
Independence of justice, The king made a speech 6-7 years ago in regard to the Judicial system, things have gotten worse since the speech. i.e more journalists arrested.
Good governance: That's a wishful thinking.. Good governance does not happen when you have the Elite governing.
Berber official language. What is this going to benefit the poor and the jobless.
Women emancipation, I would rather hear women education, Women in Morocco are made to objects that Moroccan men can use and abuse.
I.e, a woman walking by herself from the store to her house gets harassed if not sexually harassed 100% of the time if a male is around.
I want to be able to think that the new constitution is a good thing, but I can't, I would love for someone here to correct me and show me that this Constitution is just what Morocco needs.
The author said:
"more quality television programs in Berber are needed, as many Berber-speaking people are illiterate. The existing programs need to be augmented and the radio, television and newspaper outlets that have only have limited reach need to be given a wider audience."
What is this, they are illiterate and expect them to get out of the hole by watching television and listen to the radio?
How about building schools, bringing competent teachers to teach their husbands who are keeping them indoors like herds.
It's not women's fault that women don't get a chance, it's their father who cannot wait to give them away at a young age to protect the "honor" of the family or to alleviate his poverty due to his insatiable appetite for making children, it's the husband who pays sdaq to marry and immediately think that he bought a cow that he has every right over her, it's the brother who follows the father's footstep and learn the abuse since a young age.
Let's start teaching those who will teach, we need to teach the teachers before we jump to teaching the students.
Independence of justice, The king made a speech 6-7 years ago in regard to the Judicial system, things have gotten worse since the speech. i.e more journalists arrested.
Good governance: That's a wishful thinking.. Good governance does not happen when you have the Elite governing.
Berber official language. What is this going to benefit the poor and the jobless.
Women emancipation, I would rather hear women education, Women in Morocco are made to objects that Moroccan men can use and abuse.
I.e, a woman walking by herself from the store to her house gets harassed if not sexually harassed 100% of the time if a male is around.
I want to be able to think that the new constitution is a good thing, but I can't, I would love for someone here to correct me and show me that this Constitution is just what Morocco needs.
The author said:
"more quality television programs in Berber are needed, as many Berber-speaking people are illiterate. The existing programs need to be augmented and the radio, television and newspaper outlets that have only have limited reach need to be given a wider audience."
What is this, they are illiterate and expect them to get out of the hole by watching television and listen to the radio?
How about building schools, bringing competent teachers to teach their husbands who are keeping them indoors like herds.
It's not women's fault that women don't get a chance, it's their father who cannot wait to give them away at a young age to protect the "honor" of the family or to alleviate his poverty due to his insatiable appetite for making children, it's the husband who pays sdaq to marry and immediately think that he bought a cow that he has every right over her, it's the brother who follows the father's footstep and learn the abuse since a young age.
Let's start teaching those who will teach, we need to teach the teachers before we jump to teaching the students.
0
#4
Not fond of lecturing but... —
2011-09-07 00:15
I like the statement " Women are the ones who preserve and transmit the language due to their family roles educating their children." No wonder why the stupid Kardaffi of Libya was always issuing threats against all Berber women whom he considered a serious danger, and always warned against the fact that any Berber woman who teaches her son Berber language is teaching but the language of a conloniser to them. Now that how deep Berber women were important in their role of educating their children and thus preserving their discriminated-a gainst patrimony and heritage. And that how kharddafi was so serious at exerting his coercive manipulations on the innocent people of Libya. Good riddance of that old filthy bastard, Ghaddafi, and good life prolongation to our thriving post-modern and visionary King Mohamed Six!
0
#5
COMMENT_TITLE_R E Morocco: Gender At Heart Of New Constitution —
2011-09-07 02:20
Here is why this constitution is nothing but a gimmick to quiet the masses.
" The Moroccan government plans to offer 48 billion dirhams ($6 billion) in food and energy subsidies in 2011, up from an originally budgeted 17 billion dirhams. (Reuters)
Morocco cannot afford to subsidy its way out of poverty and ill management. The Moroccan authorities cannot delay the inevitable, it is a dangerous path leading to disaster and chaos, Yes Moroccans love their king, yes Moroccans want peace and are willing to wait and give a chance to those who lead them. They see what's going on around them and they do not want Morocco to fall like others, BUT, when jobs are scare and people go hungry, there is no guaranty that this exceptional and patriotic behavior will last.
Today Mr. Naciri the communication minister is saying the the government is mulling taxing the rich, to pay for these subsidies. Really? Do rich people pay taxes in Morocco? And even if they will, is that how problems are solved?
I am afraid of what's to come. Things are not getting better and will not get better any time soon.
When we see folks rioting in Britain, Greece, Spain, Israel, and Italy, you wonder what's going to happen when these waves of protests reach our homeland.
I hope that M6 and the elites realize that mocking the constitution is not the fix. The fix is to even the field for everyone to compete, to hold everyone accountable for their misdeeds and compensate the hard workers for their sacrifice.
It is extremely important for Moroccans to start thinking about tomorrow, we have a culture that only cares about today, I am afraid that things have changed and in order to secure a decent modest life, Moroccans need to start thinking about to tomorrow to secure today.
Was salamualaykom!
" The Moroccan government plans to offer 48 billion dirhams ($6 billion) in food and energy subsidies in 2011, up from an originally budgeted 17 billion dirhams. (Reuters)
Morocco cannot afford to subsidy its way out of poverty and ill management. The Moroccan authorities cannot delay the inevitable, it is a dangerous path leading to disaster and chaos, Yes Moroccans love their king, yes Moroccans want peace and are willing to wait and give a chance to those who lead them. They see what's going on around them and they do not want Morocco to fall like others, BUT, when jobs are scare and people go hungry, there is no guaranty that this exceptional and patriotic behavior will last.
Today Mr. Naciri the communication minister is saying the the government is mulling taxing the rich, to pay for these subsidies. Really? Do rich people pay taxes in Morocco? And even if they will, is that how problems are solved?
I am afraid of what's to come. Things are not getting better and will not get better any time soon.
When we see folks rioting in Britain, Greece, Spain, Israel, and Italy, you wonder what's going to happen when these waves of protests reach our homeland.
I hope that M6 and the elites realize that mocking the constitution is not the fix. The fix is to even the field for everyone to compete, to hold everyone accountable for their misdeeds and compensate the hard workers for their sacrifice.
It is extremely important for Moroccans to start thinking about tomorrow, we have a culture that only cares about today, I am afraid that things have changed and in order to secure a decent modest life, Moroccans need to start thinking about to tomorrow to secure today.
Was salamualaykom!
0
#6
Women being pimped by Moroccans now.... —
2011-09-07 05:41
The West has long since discovered that the best way to keep the lower classes in check is by employing the women and providing the women with better financial opportunities than the men. This is the surest way to make women less patient with men, and thus increase the number of divorces and single family households, which in turn generally (not always) leads to more poverty, unemployment, crime and a number of other social ills.
In times of disaster, those who follow the women are doomed. Only strong men are needed. A woman cannot be as efficient in a leadership role as a man can be. This is a simple fact. This is not to say that women cannot be great leaders in their own right, but there is a limit to the sacrifice that most women are willing to endure, thus there is a a limit to the amount of good they can bring to society.
A successful leader is someone who is willing to sacrifice everything for the benefit of those they are leading, according to this definition, Morocco and the Arab world in general have the worst leadership possible perhaps we are in fact being led by women, who makes the decisions in parliament? Is it the men or their wives?
In times of disaster, those who follow the women are doomed. Only strong men are needed. A woman cannot be as efficient in a leadership role as a man can be. This is a simple fact. This is not to say that women cannot be great leaders in their own right, but there is a limit to the sacrifice that most women are willing to endure, thus there is a a limit to the amount of good they can bring to society.
A successful leader is someone who is willing to sacrifice everything for the benefit of those they are leading, according to this definition, Morocco and the Arab world in general have the worst leadership possible perhaps we are in fact being led by women, who makes the decisions in parliament? Is it the men or their wives?
0
#7
COMMENT_TITLE_R E Morocco: Gender At Heart Of New Constitution —
2011-09-07 06:16
MP,
I would love to hear women ( Moroccan or not) replying to your "interesting" post about women being weak and whoever follow then in harsh times is doomed.
Where is Nawal when we need her ?:-)
I honesty cannot entertain your statements about women with a reply. I prefer that women do it themselves.
I would love to hear women ( Moroccan or not) replying to your "interesting" post about women being weak and whoever follow then in harsh times is doomed.
Where is Nawal when we need her ?:-)
I honesty cannot entertain your statements about women with a reply. I prefer that women do it themselves.
0
#8
COMMENT_TITLE_R E Morocco: Gender At Heart Of New Constitution —
2011-09-08 04:59
@ Morcelli – Trying to convince MoroccanPatriot would be an exercise in futility… The Islamists have zero respect for women – and it’s not them I blame… they derived their twisted belief from “the Holy Book”… a book I no longer believe in.
Here are few examples of what the Quran says about women:
It describes women as possessing great maliciousness – It presents them as a source of danger for men – It dictates that women’s portion of inheritance should be half of what a male receives – It describes women as having weak mental capabilities, thus their testimony is not valid – It gives the husband the right to “punish” his wife/ves – It gives the husband the right to force sexual intercourse…The re are MANY more demeaning statements towards women in the “Holy Book”… A book I am now convinced was written by men – and not a world of god, if there is such a thing.
Here are few examples of what the Quran says about women:
It describes women as possessing great maliciousness – It presents them as a source of danger for men – It dictates that women’s portion of inheritance should be half of what a male receives – It describes women as having weak mental capabilities, thus their testimony is not valid – It gives the husband the right to “punish” his wife/ves – It gives the husband the right to force sexual intercourse…The re are MANY more demeaning statements towards women in the “Holy Book”… A book I am now convinced was written by men – and not a world of god, if there is such a thing.
0
#9
A si MP —
2011-09-08 07:44
All i have to say is" la ilaha ilaa allah' ....bro, just in case you don't know it, in a moroccan society , mothers rule the house not dads....Dads just thinks he does, he delagates.... sorta of speak....Mother s in morocco are very powerful,have you heard of ha rda ha sakhte a waldi?? think of the implications of these words coming from your mother....it is worst thantorture... so please think about your mother, your sister, your grand ma and ants.... i can't believe what your saying here....honnest ly can't!!!
0
#10
Azziz - I will pray for you. —
2011-09-08 08:11
Azziz, you have begun upon the path of the misguided. What is really sad is that your quotes are very misleading and ofcourse taken out of context. The Prophet (pbuh) married Khadija, his first wife, who was older than him and a very successful businesswoman in her own right! The Koran teaches us that we can beat our wives with feathers, and that the path to heaven is through the blessings of your mother, a woman! Islam teaches you to treat your wife/wives as equals and if you cannot provide for them equally, and treat them equally, then you are the one who is penalized in the afterlife.
Islam puts upon the man many more responsibilitie s when it comes to caring for women than I can list here in this short space. Suffice it to say, that while women in the West had NO INHERITENCE rights through the 19th Century, Women under Islam were protected by law in a number of regards.
Where your argument, and the argument of many weak willed, and uneducated people falls short is that you include the actions of NON Muslims when you speak of Islam. Under Islam Women are treated like queens. I treat my wife and my mother as well as I know how... I teach my sons to respect women and to protect them....
Why don't you talk about the incidence of rape in the western world? The single family homes that completely bar children from collecting ANY inheretance. How about talking about the whole picture next time.... the way you refer to Muslims is like me taking what Chenney, Bush, Ariel Sharon, or NutandYahoo do and ascribing their actions to ALL Jews and Christians and saying that ALL Jews and Christians are Rapists, murderers and terrorists.... does that make sense?
Islam puts upon the man many more responsibilitie s when it comes to caring for women than I can list here in this short space. Suffice it to say, that while women in the West had NO INHERITENCE rights through the 19th Century, Women under Islam were protected by law in a number of regards.
Where your argument, and the argument of many weak willed, and uneducated people falls short is that you include the actions of NON Muslims when you speak of Islam. Under Islam Women are treated like queens. I treat my wife and my mother as well as I know how... I teach my sons to respect women and to protect them....
Why don't you talk about the incidence of rape in the western world? The single family homes that completely bar children from collecting ANY inheretance. How about talking about the whole picture next time.... the way you refer to Muslims is like me taking what Chenney, Bush, Ariel Sharon, or NutandYahoo do and ascribing their actions to ALL Jews and Christians and saying that ALL Jews and Christians are Rapists, murderers and terrorists.... does that make sense?
0
#11
COMMENT_TITLE_R E Morocco: Gender At Heart Of New Constitution —
2011-09-08 09:29
Aziz,
Thanks for the tip. MP sometimes makes sense when he's not talking about Islam, holocaust, Israel, M6, real estate in Morocco, the US, Obama, washington, qaddafi, Bouteflika, or 9/11.
In regard to the holly book, I cannot help but wonder why would many many women willfully decide to convert to Islam? I am not speaking about the ones married to Muslim men. It must be some merit there that only those women can see or feel.
The truth is that the majority of Muslims just want to live a decent life and go on their business, unfortunately, there are the greedy who target the 72 virgins and the rivers of Pinot noir.
They figure, if they simply denigrate women, pray ,and fast during ramadhan then they my hit the jackpot and go to paradise to hang out with beautiful chicks, while watching us burning and getting roasted.
My question is , how can they enjoy the beautiful virgins and the fruity Pinot while you and I are burning in fire?
That would be awful to enjoy the burning scene.
Thanks for the tip. MP sometimes makes sense when he's not talking about Islam, holocaust, Israel, M6, real estate in Morocco, the US, Obama, washington, qaddafi, Bouteflika, or 9/11.
In regard to the holly book, I cannot help but wonder why would many many women willfully decide to convert to Islam? I am not speaking about the ones married to Muslim men. It must be some merit there that only those women can see or feel.
The truth is that the majority of Muslims just want to live a decent life and go on their business, unfortunately, there are the greedy who target the 72 virgins and the rivers of Pinot noir.
They figure, if they simply denigrate women, pray ,and fast during ramadhan then they my hit the jackpot and go to paradise to hang out with beautiful chicks, while watching us burning and getting roasted.
My question is , how can they enjoy the beautiful virgins and the fruity Pinot while you and I are burning in fire?
That would be awful to enjoy the burning scene.
0
#12
COMMENT_TITLE_R E Morocco: Gender At Heart Of New Constitution —
2011-09-08 11:44
MP – I appreciate your trying to pray for me… I am just not sure it would do any good. In my brief and very limited researches, I came to the conclusion that ALL religions – Not Just Islam - are nothing more than a Marketing tool!!! Religions were brilliantly used - by some very clever people/prophets , I must admit - to control the masses and to financially benefit “few”.
My beef is not just with Islam, as incomplete and untrustworthy as it might be… but with religions in general. While they do provide spiritual comfort to some, they do cause immense and irreversible harm to many.
Back to Islam – Did you know that the Quran was “supposedly” revealed to Mohammed; who recited it to his “friends”; who compiled it into a book DECADES after he died??? Could you imagine how many omissions, additions, misinterpretati ons could have taken place??? Let’s not stop there – Did you know that there were multiple compilations based on different recitations from different caliphs? Did you know some of these fragmented collections were written on skin pigments, stones, bones & palm leaves? Did you know that Abu Bakr decided to BURN all but one version of the Quran to form unity???
I think I should stop now – but there is plenty of where this is coming from.
My beef is not just with Islam, as incomplete and untrustworthy as it might be… but with religions in general. While they do provide spiritual comfort to some, they do cause immense and irreversible harm to many.
Back to Islam – Did you know that the Quran was “supposedly” revealed to Mohammed; who recited it to his “friends”; who compiled it into a book DECADES after he died??? Could you imagine how many omissions, additions, misinterpretati ons could have taken place??? Let’s not stop there – Did you know that there were multiple compilations based on different recitations from different caliphs? Did you know some of these fragmented collections were written on skin pigments, stones, bones & palm leaves? Did you know that Abu Bakr decided to BURN all but one version of the Quran to form unity???
I think I should stop now – but there is plenty of where this is coming from.
0
#13
Morcelli & Azim - thanks for the positive dialogue —
2011-09-09 06:18
Guys,
I do not agree with either of you on a number of issues, but I am certain if we work hard enough, we might find areas where we are on the same page... moving Morocco forward and fighting corruption maybe???
The fact that Abu Bakr destroyed all but one version of the Koran was part of the brilliance of Islam. There is a process by which the Koran was put together... essentially, each Sourrah had to be confirmed as being correct by a number of honorable people known for their integrity and honesty and tracked by to something revealed directly by the Prophet (pbuh) and/or the Sahhabah. As far as I am concerned, what was left is perfect and more than passes the litmus test for me and over a Billion other Muslims.
I hope that inshallah, both of you come to find the peace that awaits you in Islam. As for enjoying the prospect of watching others burn. You actually hit on a point that I have always had a hard time with. I don't want to see anyone burn for eternity. I want to see everyone at peace. However, as a Muslim, I pray for God to give me the strength and guidance to not question that which I do not understand. It is a question of faith on that one.
I do not agree with either of you on a number of issues, but I am certain if we work hard enough, we might find areas where we are on the same page... moving Morocco forward and fighting corruption maybe???
The fact that Abu Bakr destroyed all but one version of the Koran was part of the brilliance of Islam. There is a process by which the Koran was put together... essentially, each Sourrah had to be confirmed as being correct by a number of honorable people known for their integrity and honesty and tracked by to something revealed directly by the Prophet (pbuh) and/or the Sahhabah. As far as I am concerned, what was left is perfect and more than passes the litmus test for me and over a Billion other Muslims.
I hope that inshallah, both of you come to find the peace that awaits you in Islam. As for enjoying the prospect of watching others burn. You actually hit on a point that I have always had a hard time with. I don't want to see anyone burn for eternity. I want to see everyone at peace. However, as a Muslim, I pray for God to give me the strength and guidance to not question that which I do not understand. It is a question of faith on that one.
0
#14
To Moroccan Patriot —
2011-09-09 13:14
By nature, Moroccan women are not weak, meek, nor docile. They have been made as such thru centuries of institutionaliz ed slavery. Justified by the misogynic 7th century views of self-appointed divine leader. Reinforced by an andocentric society where the male is king and the woman is made to walk on eggshells not to provoke his ire or soil his honor.
The West has discovered a newer strength when it emancipated women and made them the equal of men. The Arabs in general and the Muslims in particular are far behind lagging the world in every positive facet of progress because they still have ½ of their human resources hiding in homes and idling away.
In countries like Morocco where working women is still a recent phenomenon, couples are getting divorced and women are losing patience not because of the jobs they hold but because of men’s unrealistic expectations. They want their women to bring in the money but to also play the role of the traditional housewife akin of their mothers and grandmothers.
As to your empty and grotesque claim that women can’t lead, History is replete with examples to counter that half-witted statement. Here some names for you to research and ponder: Nefertiti – Cleopatra – Joan of Arc – Elizabeth the 1st – Catherine de Medici – Catherine the great – Indira Ghandi – Golda Meir – Queen Sheba – Margaret Thatcher –Susan B. Anthony. Go and tell the people who had the privilege to be led by these great women that they were shortchanged…Th ey and History will simply mock you.
Contrary to your erroneous belief, there’s a strong positive correlation between working women and the well being of a society. If you want to eradicate poverty, empower women and give them full control over their reproduction cycle. Look at what happened to societies in Honduras, Costa Rica, Colombia, Nepal, India, Zambia, and Nigeria when microfinance & birth control programs were made available to poor women. The poverty index went down, dependency on government programs dipped, and children health and their overall welfare marked a significant improvement.
For a person who has had an opportunity to leave Morocco, experience a different world, and learn a few things in the process, I can clearly see that that was wasted on you. Not only you are still fully entrenched in the parochial world of antiquated thoughts, and religiously based bigotry, but you also seem to rejoice in defending its wicked status quo. You may have left the 3rd World but 3rd World has never left you.
As Oscar Wilde said, “a misanthrope I can understand, a womanthrope, never!”
The West has discovered a newer strength when it emancipated women and made them the equal of men. The Arabs in general and the Muslims in particular are far behind lagging the world in every positive facet of progress because they still have ½ of their human resources hiding in homes and idling away.
In countries like Morocco where working women is still a recent phenomenon, couples are getting divorced and women are losing patience not because of the jobs they hold but because of men’s unrealistic expectations. They want their women to bring in the money but to also play the role of the traditional housewife akin of their mothers and grandmothers.
As to your empty and grotesque claim that women can’t lead, History is replete with examples to counter that half-witted statement. Here some names for you to research and ponder: Nefertiti – Cleopatra – Joan of Arc – Elizabeth the 1st – Catherine de Medici – Catherine the great – Indira Ghandi – Golda Meir – Queen Sheba – Margaret Thatcher –Susan B. Anthony. Go and tell the people who had the privilege to be led by these great women that they were shortchanged…Th ey and History will simply mock you.
Contrary to your erroneous belief, there’s a strong positive correlation between working women and the well being of a society. If you want to eradicate poverty, empower women and give them full control over their reproduction cycle. Look at what happened to societies in Honduras, Costa Rica, Colombia, Nepal, India, Zambia, and Nigeria when microfinance & birth control programs were made available to poor women. The poverty index went down, dependency on government programs dipped, and children health and their overall welfare marked a significant improvement.
For a person who has had an opportunity to leave Morocco, experience a different world, and learn a few things in the process, I can clearly see that that was wasted on you. Not only you are still fully entrenched in the parochial world of antiquated thoughts, and religiously based bigotry, but you also seem to rejoice in defending its wicked status quo. You may have left the 3rd World but 3rd World has never left you.
As Oscar Wilde said, “a misanthrope I can understand, a womanthrope, never!”
0
#15
COMMENT_TITLE_R E Morocco: Gender At Heart Of New Constitution —
2011-09-09 13:28
You first referred to me as “Azziz” with 2 “Z’s”… then you addressed me as Azim with an “M” instead of a Z :-))) but you know what? it’s no biggy…
I am all for concentrating on what unites us versus what separates us… But, think of it Mr. MP, what could we possibly agree on??? You like dates, I like chocolate; you like fig, I like spare ribs; you like tomatoes, I like tomatos… But seriously MP, do you really think that “burning/destro ying” evidence – no matter how controversial it might be – is the right thing to do??? I truly thought you were smarter than that… and don’t even try to go to the order in which is sourah was put together… There is enough material out there to contravene that theory altogether…
I am all for concentrating on what unites us versus what separates us… But, think of it Mr. MP, what could we possibly agree on??? You like dates, I like chocolate; you like fig, I like spare ribs; you like tomatoes, I like tomatos… But seriously MP, do you really think that “burning/destro ying” evidence – no matter how controversial it might be – is the right thing to do??? I truly thought you were smarter than that… and don’t even try to go to the order in which is sourah was put together… There is enough material out there to contravene that theory altogether…
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#16
COMMENT_TITLE_R E Morocco: Gender At Heart Of New Constitution —
2011-09-09 13:50
MP said: "I pray for God to give me the strength and guidance to not question that which I do not understand. It is a question of faith on that one"
What???? You do not want to question that which you do not understand??? MP, do yourself a favor, think about this statement again… I am pretty sure you would ascertain that it does NOT make any sense at all!!!!
What???? You do not want to question that which you do not understand??? MP, do yourself a favor, think about this statement again… I am pretty sure you would ascertain that it does NOT make any sense at all!!!!
0
#17
To Moroccan Patriot —
2011-09-09 15:28
Seems like your history of the Qur’an is part revisionist and part frivolously selective.
After Mohamed’s death, many tried to collect his “revelations” and write them down in codex form. The list includes and is not limited to: Ibn Mas’ud, Ali, Abu Bakr, Al Ash’ari and others. As Muslims expanded their empire, the earlier codices changed to mean the locality rather than the person. And so we had the codex from Medina, Mecca, Basra, Damascus...(btw , later on Uthman tried to canonize the Medina codex and destroy all the others)
If you know Arabic, you know how complex it is to read a text with no vowels. That situation is made a whole lot more difficult when the consonants are ambiguous as a result of the text not being pointed (b and t or f and q)
Given the situation and in mid 10th century, there were 7 Qur’anic systems and since they had to be traced to 2 different transmitters, this setup provided 14 possibilities. Even in present day Islam, there are 2:
-Asim of Kufa thru Hafs
-Nafi thru Warsh
So when you claim that the Qu’ran is the word of God, which book are you referring to? And when you say that it’s perfect, how do you qualify its perfection?
We are primates but the one thing that separates us from all the other animals is our ability to think, analyze, and reason. When you don’t question what you don’t understand, you have resigned to lock away your reason and swallow whole what others have prescribed you to. If you feel comfortable in your man-made intellectual prison, I wish you all the best. But please refrain from asking people to join you because you have no justification for it other than blind faith and wishful thinking. Just because you are under a severe misapprehension doesn’t mean it’s real and it doesn’t grant you the right to claim its universality.
After Mohamed’s death, many tried to collect his “revelations” and write them down in codex form. The list includes and is not limited to: Ibn Mas’ud, Ali, Abu Bakr, Al Ash’ari and others. As Muslims expanded their empire, the earlier codices changed to mean the locality rather than the person. And so we had the codex from Medina, Mecca, Basra, Damascus...(btw , later on Uthman tried to canonize the Medina codex and destroy all the others)
If you know Arabic, you know how complex it is to read a text with no vowels. That situation is made a whole lot more difficult when the consonants are ambiguous as a result of the text not being pointed (b and t or f and q)
Given the situation and in mid 10th century, there were 7 Qur’anic systems and since they had to be traced to 2 different transmitters, this setup provided 14 possibilities. Even in present day Islam, there are 2:
-Asim of Kufa thru Hafs
-Nafi thru Warsh
So when you claim that the Qu’ran is the word of God, which book are you referring to? And when you say that it’s perfect, how do you qualify its perfection?
We are primates but the one thing that separates us from all the other animals is our ability to think, analyze, and reason. When you don’t question what you don’t understand, you have resigned to lock away your reason and swallow whole what others have prescribed you to. If you feel comfortable in your man-made intellectual prison, I wish you all the best. But please refrain from asking people to join you because you have no justification for it other than blind faith and wishful thinking. Just because you are under a severe misapprehension doesn’t mean it’s real and it doesn’t grant you the right to claim its universality.
0
#18
To Moroccan Patriot —
2011-09-10 10:54
By nature, Moroccan women are not weak, meek, nor docile. They have been made as such thru centuries of institutionaliz ed slavery. Justified by the misogynistic 7th century views of self-appointed divine leader. Reinforced by an andocentric society where the male is king and the woman is made to walk on eggshells not to provoke his ire or soil his honor.
The West has discovered a newer strength when it emancipated women and made them the equal of men. The Arabs in general and the Muslims in particular are far behind lagging the world in every positive facet of progress because they still have ½ of their human resources hiding in homes and idling away.
In countries like Morocco where working women is still a recent phenomenon, couples are getting divorced and women are losing patience not because of the jobs they hold but because of men unrealistic expectations. They want their women to bring in the money but to also play the role of the traditional housewife akin of their mothers and grandmothers.
As to your empty and grotesque claim that women can’t lead, History is replete with examples to counter that half-witted statement. Here some names for you to research and ponder: Nefertiti – Cleopatra – Joan of Arc – Elizabeth the 1st – Catherine de Medici – Catherine the great – Indira Ghandi – Golda Meir – Queen Sheba – Margaret Thatcher –Susan B. Anthony. Go and tell the people who had the privilege to be led by these great women that they were shortchanged…Th ey and History will simply mock you.
Contrary to your erroneous belief, there’s a strong positive correlation between working women and the well being of a society. If you want to eradicate poverty, empower women and give them full control over their reproduction cycle. Look at what happened to societies in Honduras, Costa Rica, Colombia, Nepal, India, Zambia, and Nigeria when micro-finance & birth control programs were made available to poor women. The poverty index went down, dependency on government programs dipped, and children health and their overall welfare marked a significant improvement.
For a person who has had an opportunity to leave Morocco, experience a different world, and learn a few things in the process, I can clearly see that that was wasted on you. Not only you are still fully entrenched in the parochial world of antiquated thoughts, and religiously based bigotry, but you also seem to rejoice in defending its wicked status quo. You may have left the 3rd World but 3rd World has never left you.
As Oscar Wilde said, “a misanthrope I can understand, a womanthrope, never!”
The West has discovered a newer strength when it emancipated women and made them the equal of men. The Arabs in general and the Muslims in particular are far behind lagging the world in every positive facet of progress because they still have ½ of their human resources hiding in homes and idling away.
In countries like Morocco where working women is still a recent phenomenon, couples are getting divorced and women are losing patience not because of the jobs they hold but because of men unrealistic expectations. They want their women to bring in the money but to also play the role of the traditional housewife akin of their mothers and grandmothers.
As to your empty and grotesque claim that women can’t lead, History is replete with examples to counter that half-witted statement. Here some names for you to research and ponder: Nefertiti – Cleopatra – Joan of Arc – Elizabeth the 1st – Catherine de Medici – Catherine the great – Indira Ghandi – Golda Meir – Queen Sheba – Margaret Thatcher –Susan B. Anthony. Go and tell the people who had the privilege to be led by these great women that they were shortchanged…Th ey and History will simply mock you.
Contrary to your erroneous belief, there’s a strong positive correlation between working women and the well being of a society. If you want to eradicate poverty, empower women and give them full control over their reproduction cycle. Look at what happened to societies in Honduras, Costa Rica, Colombia, Nepal, India, Zambia, and Nigeria when micro-finance & birth control programs were made available to poor women. The poverty index went down, dependency on government programs dipped, and children health and their overall welfare marked a significant improvement.
For a person who has had an opportunity to leave Morocco, experience a different world, and learn a few things in the process, I can clearly see that that was wasted on you. Not only you are still fully entrenched in the parochial world of antiquated thoughts, and religiously based bigotry, but you also seem to rejoice in defending its wicked status quo. You may have left the 3rd World but 3rd World has never left you.
As Oscar Wilde said, “a misanthrope I can understand, a womanthrope, never!”
0
#19
COMMENT_TITLE_R E Morocco: Gender At Heart Of New Constitution —
2011-09-11 11:43
MP,
Basically, it is pretty safe to conclude that your mother, sister,daughter , aunt, and grand mother are weak and useless. They are simple progenitors that men can use for pleasure any time , anywhere, because he is a "man". right?
I sincerely hope that you do not think of your mother as something that is only good to reproduce.
.
Ba
Basically, it is pretty safe to conclude that your mother, sister,daughter , aunt, and grand mother are weak and useless. They are simple progenitors that men can use for pleasure any time , anywhere, because he is a "man". right?
I sincerely hope that you do not think of your mother as something that is only good to reproduce.
.
Ba
0
#20
I say: Give me a break! —
2011-09-12 05:34
I just came back from Morocco, and I did not see any change whatsoever. The local Da-Era is more corrupt than ever. People vent and no one gives a fig. Those who are in charge do not care whether you vent or not because they all have someone to bail them out in case the .... hits the fan. My friend had to bribe his way to have his two children listed on the family-book/Hal a Madania. His two children were born in the U.S. and there was no way for him to stay in Morocco, sue himself, and prove that his kids are his own for them to be considered Moroccan. The inner city roads are no less than a death-trap for hundreds of thousands of commuters who breath nothing but cancerous exhaust. Casa Blanca is a nightmare of the first order when it comes to trafic. My family and I went on a visit with high hopes thinking that we would be able to go back to Morocco one and for all, but were were slapped awake and rushed back to the U.S. I am saddened to have experienced first hand the status quo of Morocco,one of corruption, disorganization , bullying, class-war perpetuating, etc., etc.,... I do not advise any expatriots to go back given the country's continuing sickness. The constitution is and will remain a joke until people rise up and overthrow the whole regime. It is just a matter of time.
0
#21
Men Who allow their wives to work outside the home are not worthy of respect —
2011-09-12 07:51
Nawal,
You made a great point, Some men do not deserve to be called men. They should be referred to quite simply as male specimens.
A man is able to take care of his household. A Man does not expect his wife to provide for the family. A Man does not sit at home, unemployed or drinking alcohol while his wife earns a living.
A real Man does not depend on his wife to work. I am very happily married. None of my wives work outside the home. I created a company so that they could do some work INSIDE the home, and I assign them tasks to help me with my own business at times, but their job is very clear, to make me happy and to take care of the kids.
I eat like a king, and my children, alhamdoullah, are well looked after. I deal with the stress of supporting the household. I hope to provide the same kind of life for my children that my father provided for us inshallah.
Men who send their wives off to work, and then expect their wives to do the dishes, cook, and look after the children after they come home are abusing their wives, and their marriages will not last. If you want your marriages to last, treat your wives well. Treat your wives equally, and marry young women and raise them by your hand.
I think one of the mistakes Many Men make is that the women they marry are too old, You should not marry any girl younger older than 18, or younger than 16... 16 or at most 17 is the ideal age for your potential bride.
You should also never say a harsh word to your wives,for their memories are longer than an elephants.Be kind, be gentle and be patient, teach your wives through your good example.
You made a great point, Some men do not deserve to be called men. They should be referred to quite simply as male specimens.
A man is able to take care of his household. A Man does not expect his wife to provide for the family. A Man does not sit at home, unemployed or drinking alcohol while his wife earns a living.
A real Man does not depend on his wife to work. I am very happily married. None of my wives work outside the home. I created a company so that they could do some work INSIDE the home, and I assign them tasks to help me with my own business at times, but their job is very clear, to make me happy and to take care of the kids.
I eat like a king, and my children, alhamdoullah, are well looked after. I deal with the stress of supporting the household. I hope to provide the same kind of life for my children that my father provided for us inshallah.
Men who send their wives off to work, and then expect their wives to do the dishes, cook, and look after the children after they come home are abusing their wives, and their marriages will not last. If you want your marriages to last, treat your wives well. Treat your wives equally, and marry young women and raise them by your hand.
I think one of the mistakes Many Men make is that the women they marry are too old, You should not marry any girl younger older than 18, or younger than 16... 16 or at most 17 is the ideal age for your potential bride.
You should also never say a harsh word to your wives,for their memories are longer than an elephants.Be kind, be gentle and be patient, teach your wives through your good example.
0
#22
Empowering women is all about disenfranchisin g minority communities —
2011-09-12 08:08
The goal behind providing empowerment to women in the West is not benevolent. It is all about breaking up the family unit and destroying the men. There is a reason Hispanic and Black women earn more, on average than Hispanic and Black men. On the other hand, White men earn significantly more, on average than white women, ever wonder about that?
As for the opportunity to go to America being wasted on me... you have got to be kidding me!!!! I grew up in the US. I am now living in Morocco for the first time in My life!!! I just got to Morocco 6 Years ago, after deciding that America was a country in decline, and no longer respected the rule of law... and after Bush stole yet another election... well that was the straw that broke the camels back for me.
No Polygamy laws in Morocco to deal with, No real laws of any kind to be honest... the police are just there. Don't expect them to stop a crime, don't expect them to do much of anything, but at least they won't give you a speeding ticket or parking ticket either, as long as you are friendly with them, they are actually really nice 99.99% of the time.
Morocco is a great place to live if you own your own home and have a comfortable income. I do not understand why any man would choose to live in America, when you can live so well here.
As for the opportunity to go to America being wasted on me... you have got to be kidding me!!!! I grew up in the US. I am now living in Morocco for the first time in My life!!! I just got to Morocco 6 Years ago, after deciding that America was a country in decline, and no longer respected the rule of law... and after Bush stole yet another election... well that was the straw that broke the camels back for me.
No Polygamy laws in Morocco to deal with, No real laws of any kind to be honest... the police are just there. Don't expect them to stop a crime, don't expect them to do much of anything, but at least they won't give you a speeding ticket or parking ticket either, as long as you are friendly with them, they are actually really nice 99.99% of the time.
Morocco is a great place to live if you own your own home and have a comfortable income. I do not understand why any man would choose to live in America, when you can live so well here.
0
#23
Important contribution by Professor Sadiqi —
2011-09-17 00:28
This is an excellent and reliable contribution by a major scholar and author on gender issues and more, with particularly good observations on the need for access to justice. Thanks to Professor Sadiqi -- who spoke on women's rights in Morocco at an important Washington Moroccan-Americ an Club event on 3/17/10 held in Washington, D.C. and chaired by a WMC member as part of the WMC's 20/20 anniversary celebration of its 20 years of service to the Moroccan-Americ an community -- for publishing here so that her wisdom can be readily accessible throughout the Moroccan-Americ an community and to friends of Morocco. Her WMC presentation was reported in a story that appeared on MoroccoBoard and is available at moroccoboard.com/.../...
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