The Orthodox Dichotomy between the Secular and Islamic Feminisms in Moroccan Young Activists

Fatima Ezzahraa El Fattah

doi:10.32996/jgcs.2021.1.1.3

Abstract

There has been an ongoing interest in youth activism in recent decades, especially in western countries where youth organizations and associations are very common in schools and colleges. Heather Lewis-Charp et al. confirm that although there is an increasing interest in youth political engagement, there are very few empirical studies on the subject matter (Shawn Ginwright 2006, 22). This lack of research applies to the issue of youth activism and political engagement not just in Morocco, but across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). In the wake of the so-called Arab spring, the focus on youth political engagement and activism grew, given the important role of youth and other marginalized communities – especially women – in protests around the region. In Morocco, a large number of the protesters in the February 20th movement were young people; of these, many were actively associated with feminist organizations and work. This is in contrast to the continued association between feminist activism in Morocco and older generations. This chapter will start by sketching a history of feminist movements and organizations in Morocco and will follow with a discussion of recent activist work by two prominent activists, Zineb Fasiki and Youssef Gherradi.

Highlights

Fatima Ezzahraa El Fattah PhD Student, Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah, University, Dhar El Mharaz
There has been an ongoing interest in youth activism in recent decades, especially in western countries where youth organizations and associations are very common in schools and colleges
The historical battlefield between the secular and Islamic feminisms in Morocco, as detailed by Sadiqi has its manifestations among young activists as well

Summary

Zineb Fasiki

Women Power Zineb Fasiki is an engineer and a comic artist who dedicates all her work to the feminist cause. She captioned the picture saying “buses are made to transport people and not rape girls” (fasiki 2017) This does not imply that sexual harassment has never been discussed in Morocco, but what Zineb managed to do is to broaden the scope of the discussion to the wider audience through social media and through her bold depiction of a naked body which is still considered a taboo in Morocco. Except for the English departments at the Moroccan universities, it is very rare that other students studying other subjects even in the humanities know or study feminism, and this is one of the reasons why feminism remained in Morocco an elitist topic Her controversial illustrations are changing the average Moroccan’s mindset, but they are raising questions about what has been accepted as the status quo for centuries concerning the women’s issue. Comic art or any other artistic forms can be an effective means of activism, even if it is considered non-traditional

Youssef Gherradi

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Discussion

Conclusion