Moroccan Women Backtrack on Equality at Work in 2024
In 2024, a recent survey conducted by the “Arab Barometer” revealed a significant shift in Moroccan women’s views on equal opportunities at work and the role of men in family decision-making. The results, compiled in the report “Public Opinion Trends on Gender in the Middle East and North Africa,” show a marked decline in support for equal opportunities at work, coupled with an increase in support for the idea that men should have the final say in family decisions.
Drop in Support for Equal Opportunities at Work
Support for equal opportunities at work among Moroccan women has fallen to 64%, a decrease of 11 percentage points since 2007. This significant decline raises questions about the social and cultural factors that influence this trend. In comparison, other countries in the region have also seen a decline in support for equality in the workplace, including Lebanon and Palestine, where the percentages have decreased by 5 and 4 points, respectively.
Increased Support for Men’s Dominant Role in the Family
At the same time, the survey found a notable increase in support among Moroccan women for the idea that men should have final decision-making power in family matters. In 2022, 37% of Moroccan women supported this view, but by 2023-2024, this figure had risen to 53%, an increase of 16 percentage points. This trend places Moroccan women among the most supportive of this view in the region.
Comparison with Other Countries in the Region
This trend in Morocco is also observed in other Arab countries. In Morocco, 70% of men share the idea that men should have the final say in family decisions, while 53% of women also adhere to this position. In Tunisia, support for this principle climbed by 10 points between 2021 and 2023. Similar increases were noted in Jordan and Palestine, confirming a return to more conservative norms regarding family roles after a period of decline between 2016 and 2018.
Impact of the Distribution of Family Roles on Equal Opportunities
The link between family role division and attitudes toward equal opportunity at work is clear. People who support shared decision-making within the family are generally more supportive of equal opportunity at work. However, in Morocco and other countries, support for exclusively male decision-making in families appears to coincide with declining support for equality at work.
The results of this survey reveal a growing trend toward more conservative attitudes in Morocco and other countries in the Middle East and North Africa. The decline in support for equal opportunities at work, coupled with an increase in support for male decision-making power in the family, reflects a social shift that deserves careful attention. These changes raise questions about the future challenges that gender equality advocates will face in these regions.
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