Generational Politics and Renewal of Leadership in the Moroccan Women's Movement

Abstract

This article uses generational analysis to discuss generational politics and renewal of leadership in the Moroccan women's movement. I argue that while assessments of the achievements and challenges of the movement abound within and outside academia, there is a remarkable silence around issues of generations and intergenerational relationships. How do recent gains in women's rights resonate with the younger generation in the country? How supportive and involved are young people in consolidating these gains? To explore these questions, this article draws on in-depth interviews with thirty-two young men and women. While the sample size is relatively small, the ethnographies suggest complex ways in which youth relate to the gains of the women's movement and women's rights activism. I have identified three broad trends in youth's attitudes: willed self-distantiation, cautious identification and strategic endorsement. They all suggest that the consolidation of recent gains and promotion of gender equity are difficult to achieve without a greater involvement and inclusion of the younger generation. I conclude that the current generation of women activists is challenged into re-connecting with youth and re-inventing their strategies to expand their appeal among the younger generation.