"While legally and religiously, through an egalitarian interpretation of the Quran, women and men are entitled to the same rights as men, Moroccan women are barred from the labor force by the Harem Mentality. The Harem Mentality is founded upon patriarchal understandings of Islam, solidified by Islam and Morocco’s history of gender segregation and is implemented today through inconspicuous, yet harmful ways. Whether it is through a subtle comment about women’s place in the home, a catcall on the street, or preferring men over women as an employer, Moroccan men are creating barriers to women’s economic participation".
I dedicated the next 18 months to understanding the impact of Islam on the female labor force participation rates in Morocco. Utilizing my Economics and International Studies coursework, I employed a mixed methodology. The qualitative part of the study consisted of an in-depth analysis of the Quran and Hadiths. The second part of the study consisted of survey that assessed Moroccans’ opinions on women in the workforce and religiosity. This survey was distributed to over 500 Moroccans.
RESEARCH: HAREM MENTALITY
When I was studying abroad in Morocco, I became puzzled on why so many Moroccan women did not participate in the workforce. It was evident that many of our host families could use an extra income, so what was preventing women from working? Could it be Islam?
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