How do historical and contemporary injustices and inequalities influence identity, opportunity, and perspectives on social change?
What history of injustice/inequality exists?
(In relation to ethnicity, gender, class, language, religion, legacy of colonialism, etc.)
How have injustice and inequality changed over the years?
How does oppression not only affect opportunity and access, but also the identities of individuals and communities?
How do the experiences of individuals and communities with injustice and inequality impact their relationship with social change/social movements?
Post-Travel:
I feel that my understanding of this essential question is just starting. Because of circumstances out of my control during the trip (including a rather large language barrier), I got only glimpses of how people feel about social injustices and social movements. I plan to continue exploring this essential question and learning more about current activists and social movements happening in Morocco. I'll be starting with the book shown below:
What history of injustice/inequality exists?
(In relation to ethnicity, gender, class, language, religion, legacy of colonialism, etc.)
How have injustice and inequality changed over the years?
How does oppression not only affect opportunity and access, but also the identities of individuals and communities?
How do the experiences of individuals and communities with injustice and inequality impact their relationship with social change/social movements?
Post-Travel:
I feel that my understanding of this essential question is just starting. Because of circumstances out of my control during the trip (including a rather large language barrier), I got only glimpses of how people feel about social injustices and social movements. I plan to continue exploring this essential question and learning more about current activists and social movements happening in Morocco. I'll be starting with the book shown below:
Reflection on essential questions:
Thinking about my travels in Morocco, although I still have many questions, there are certain observations I was able to make during my time in the country. Several of my colleagues were looking at women's issues as an historic inequality, and as we traveled we made a point of speaking with women about their experiences. There was a wide range of opinions on the status of women. An interesting comment made by several women who had obtained some degree of professional success was that in their opinion sexism had been all but eradicated in Morocco. Several other people commented on the success of girls in school as further evidence of that. It was interesting, as exists in many places, that the progress of women was often used a shield to not talk about persistent issues of stereotypical gender roles, domestic abuse, etc. Morocco mirrored many other places in the world where there has been definite progress made, but that progress often serves as justification to not address structural inequality. I did, however, meet with one woman at our host school, a teacher, who works for a local organization that gives assistance to women who have been victims of domestic violence.
As a teacher of a race studies course, I was particularly interested in looking at issues of race and ethnicity. There was one presentation that I found particularly interesting. Our in-country guide had just finished presenting on the different ethnic groups within Morocco and that the prevailing view was that there really was no racism in Morocco. This was interesting because it came right after a discussion of how a particular ethnic group, which is lighter-skinned, has been the most powerful group economically and politically within Morocco, and that there are even local idioms to refer to someone who is lighter skinned and seen as being part of that more privileged and powerful group. Race was definitely an issue that not many people wanted to discuss, and I also noticed a reticence to talk about the lingering effects of colonialism. We met a few people who were more engaged in social issues that would talk frankly about European colonization in Africa and the Middle East, but it was not an issue that most other people wanted to discuss. This was particularly interesting in light of the fact that many Moroccan companies have been bought by multinationals and that the majority of industry is controlled by European interests.
I saw language as another historical injustice that is playing out in modern-day Morocco. Because certain linguistic groups have not historically been represented in politics and the economy, there is a current movement to incorporate those language groups into mainstream society, like government materials and schools incorporating the use and teaching of other languages. This is also an issue not many people discuss, but it does represent that there is a recognition of past injustice and a desire to take steps toward rectifying those injustices.
One particularly interesting issue as I traveled in Morocco was the issue of civil society and civic engagement. My particular host teacher preferred not to talk about politics, but I know that other host teachers were much more open. I want to continue my study of Morocco to see how much of a history there is of civic engagement and public protest. Just from being in country for a couple of weeks, it seemed that this tradition is not as strong as it is in other countries, and I would be interested to learn more about why that is. I would be interested in learning about the particularl ways in which Moroccans see themselves as part of civil society and the unique ways in which Moroccans engage with institutions and work toward changing society.
Thinking about my travels in Morocco, although I still have many questions, there are certain observations I was able to make during my time in the country. Several of my colleagues were looking at women's issues as an historic inequality, and as we traveled we made a point of speaking with women about their experiences. There was a wide range of opinions on the status of women. An interesting comment made by several women who had obtained some degree of professional success was that in their opinion sexism had been all but eradicated in Morocco. Several other people commented on the success of girls in school as further evidence of that. It was interesting, as exists in many places, that the progress of women was often used a shield to not talk about persistent issues of stereotypical gender roles, domestic abuse, etc. Morocco mirrored many other places in the world where there has been definite progress made, but that progress often serves as justification to not address structural inequality. I did, however, meet with one woman at our host school, a teacher, who works for a local organization that gives assistance to women who have been victims of domestic violence.
As a teacher of a race studies course, I was particularly interested in looking at issues of race and ethnicity. There was one presentation that I found particularly interesting. Our in-country guide had just finished presenting on the different ethnic groups within Morocco and that the prevailing view was that there really was no racism in Morocco. This was interesting because it came right after a discussion of how a particular ethnic group, which is lighter-skinned, has been the most powerful group economically and politically within Morocco, and that there are even local idioms to refer to someone who is lighter skinned and seen as being part of that more privileged and powerful group. Race was definitely an issue that not many people wanted to discuss, and I also noticed a reticence to talk about the lingering effects of colonialism. We met a few people who were more engaged in social issues that would talk frankly about European colonization in Africa and the Middle East, but it was not an issue that most other people wanted to discuss. This was particularly interesting in light of the fact that many Moroccan companies have been bought by multinationals and that the majority of industry is controlled by European interests.
I saw language as another historical injustice that is playing out in modern-day Morocco. Because certain linguistic groups have not historically been represented in politics and the economy, there is a current movement to incorporate those language groups into mainstream society, like government materials and schools incorporating the use and teaching of other languages. This is also an issue not many people discuss, but it does represent that there is a recognition of past injustice and a desire to take steps toward rectifying those injustices.
One particularly interesting issue as I traveled in Morocco was the issue of civil society and civic engagement. My particular host teacher preferred not to talk about politics, but I know that other host teachers were much more open. I want to continue my study of Morocco to see how much of a history there is of civic engagement and public protest. Just from being in country for a couple of weeks, it seemed that this tradition is not as strong as it is in other countries, and I would be interested to learn more about why that is. I would be interested in learning about the particularl ways in which Moroccans see themselves as part of civil society and the unique ways in which Moroccans engage with institutions and work toward changing society.