Steps to the Integration of Moroccan Women in Development

Abstract

This paper casts a gender perspective on development in Morocco. While Moroccan women contribute to development, their socio-economic situation has hardly improved over the years as a result of their participation. Despite the increasing aid afforded to the country and despite the numerous programs of development financed by world organizations, all the indications show that there exists an increase of poverty, particularly among women. The evaluation of projects specific to women's promotion has shown the limits of the economic approach. The role of women in development and growth is crucial. Education and training are so important for women to enable them to meet the new challenges, and to help them safeguard their rights and interests. The development of society cannot be achieved without the integration of women in the process of growth. To promote women's emancipation, the State must open doors to women who ought to be adequately trained to use the new information technology. By gaining new skills, Moroccan women can develop their productivity and improve their standards of living and those of their families.

Notes

¹ S. Cohen and L. Jaidi, Morocco: Globalization and Its Consequences (New York: Routledge, 2006), p. 149.

² M. Ennaji, Civil Society, Gender, and Development (Fès: Fès-Saiss Publications, 2004).

³ Al-Alam, 16 September 2000, p. 10.

⁴ See R. Mejjati Alami, ‘Femmes et Vulnérabilité sur le Marché du Travail’ in F. Sadiqi (ed.), Mouvements Féministes (Fès: Faculty of Letters Publications, 2000), pp. 15–28.

⁵ M. Ennaji, ‘Social policy in Morocco’ in M. Karshenas and V. Moghadem (eds.), Social Policy in the Middle East (New York: Palgrave Macmillan and UNRISD, 2006), pp. 116–127.

⁶ See F. Sadiqi (ed.), Feminist Movements: Origins and Orientations (Fès: Faculty of Letters Publications, 2000).

⁷ For more details see M. Ennaji, and F. Sadiqi, Migration and Gender in Morocco (Trenton: Red Sea Press, 2008).

⁸ P.K. Taylor, ‘I just want to be me’ in Jennifer Heath (ed.), The Veil: Women Writers on Its History, Lore and Politics (Berkeley, CA: California University Press, 2008), pp. 119–138.

⁹ World Bank (1995b) p. 5; ESCWA (1999, 2000) p. 37; ILO (1996); Moghadam (1998).

¹¹ M. Ennaji and F. Sadiqi, Migration and Gender in Morocco (Trenton: Red Sea Press, 2008), Chapter 4.

¹² Source: World Bank: http://www.genderstats.worldbank.org

¹³ See M. Ennaji and F. Sadiqi (2008), Migration and Gender in Morocco, Chapter 4.

¹⁴ See the Moroccan daily Al-Alam of 16 September 2000, p. 10.

¹⁵ S. Schaefer Davis, ‘Women Weavers Online: Rural Moroccan Women on the Internet’, in Gender Technology and Development, 8(1) (2004), pp. 53–74. Cf. also F. Mernissi, ‘Le Tapis Amazigh et les Tisseuses Artistes’, in Moha Ennaji (ed.), La Culture Amazighe et le Développement Humain (Fès: Publications of Fès-Saiss, 2007), pp. 15–20.

¹⁶ Cf. A. Belarbi, ‘La représentation de la femme à travers les livres scolaires’, in M. Al Alahyane et al. (eds.), Portraits De Femmes (Casablanca: Le Fennec, 1987), pp. 47–68.

¹⁷ cf. United Nations Development Program (UNDP), 1996.

¹⁸ Mejjatti Alami, ‘Femmes et Vulnérabilité sur le Marché du Travail’, pp. 15–28.

¹⁹ Direction des Statistiques, 1999.

²⁰ Mejjatti Alami, ‘Femmes et Vulnérabilité sur le Marché du Travail’, pp. 15–28.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Moha Ennaji

Université Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah, Fès, Morocco