Public Space in Morocco; a History of Gender Segregation

Abstract

In this article, I examine the division of space in private and public spheres according to gender in the context of present-day Morocco. One of the many male-dominated spaces in Moroccan society is the Café culture, which in turn has implications for the male domination of the public sphere as a whole. The café not only occupy the actual part of an area but also creates a purely male territory where women are often not welcomed. Any women’s attempt to trespass into this territory is an exception that is in some cases can amount to cultural suicide. This article investigates parts of the history of Moroccan women’s attempt to reclaim public spaces, which can be said to coincide with the first phase of women movement. This article also attempts to create a link with the conceptualization of Harem as a historical and physical limitation to women’s access to public space. The article will trace this limitation back to the first Moroccan family law adopted in 1947, which only confirmed the traditional role of women and men. It will be argued that the last modification of the law in 2004 finally gave more rights to women.