Acting up: performance and the politics of womanhood in contemporary Morocco

Abstract

In the 14 years since Mohammed VI took power, the reform of women's status in the public arena and within the family unit has become a priority for Morocco as the country tries to assert its reputation as one of the most liberal countries in the Arab world. It is a very complex task because of deep-rooted patriarchal attitudes, the corruption of the political and judicial system, and also because Moroccan women are far from being a homogeneous group sharing the same experiences. The king introduced a controversial reform of the Moudawana in 2003, which was presented as being inspired by religious texts but has failed to substantially reduce gender inequalities. The recent events of the Arab Spring have also helped to bring the issue of women's participation in public life to the fore. Theatre groups have of course reflected this trend by placing more women in lead roles and by challenging widespread patriarchal values with innovative plays. Female directors such as Samia Akariou and Naima Zitan have attracted attention in the last few years by directing daring plays and television adaptations, and creating strong heroines. However, many theatre companies receive funding and exposure from the state or from foreign non-governmental organizations, thus raising the issue of co-optation.

Keywords:

• gender
• theatre
• Morocco
• performance
• representation
• media
• Muslim feminism

Notes

The Moudawana al-Ahwal al-Shakhsiya is the personal status code, which first appeared after independence in 1956 and regulates family issues such as marriage, divorce, custody of children and inheritance.

The makhzen, literally ‘storage’, is a pre-colonial term commonly used to refer to the Moroccan authorities and the king's entourage.

Under the previous code, women were required to have the consent of a legal guardian, usually their father, in order to sign a marriage contract. This has now been abolished (Zvan Elliott 2009, 218).

The Islamist Party for Justice and Development (Hizb Al ‘Adala wa at Tanmia) was elected in 2011 during the events of the ‘Arab Spring’; with Abdelillah Benkirane becoming leader of the government. Contrary to the influential movement Justice and Spirituality, the party recognizes the monarchy's legitimacy and thus is allowed to take part in elections.