Do you agree with Mernissi that the modernizing Moroccan society she studied in the 1970s provided no norms for heterosexual interaction between the sexes? - How far is this applicable to other Moslem societies you have read about?

Résumé du document

Gender interactions in the Moslem world and in Western societies are often opposed in terms of the woman's place in society. The Cultural differences between the two worlds can be underlined but it is not the subject of sociology to evaluate which one of the both ways of gender interaction is the best. The object of this essay is rather, to focus on the transition that can take place in some Moslem societies from ‘tradition' to ‘modernity' as far as sexual interactions are concerned. Using this framework, Fatima Mernissi, in Beyond the Veil: male-female dynamics in modern Muslim society (1975) makes the statement that in modern Morocco in the 1970s did not provide norms for sexual interaction between the sexes because of the desegregation of gender. According to Mernissi, this society is characterized by promiscuity between sexes and women are everywhere. Modernization broke down the Moroccan model of society and replaced it with a western one. As a consequence, females and males in Moroccan society are facing a crisis of femininity and masculinity and need to reshape gender definitions in a context of the absence of norms.

Extraits

[...] First of all, let us study Mernissi statement as far as Morocco is concerned. First, let us explain in more details Mernissi's statement and why it can be relevant. She argues that Moroccan modern society is moving from a traditional society to a modern one. It leads to a loss of norms ruling sexual interaction. In traditional Morocco, to prevent the destruction of social order, institutions such as polygamy, repudiation or sexual segregation were set up to contain women destructive force. As enemies, women and men cannot interact. [...]

[...] In rural areas and for lower class people, there are still norms that shape sexual interaction between the sexes. Moreover, although in urban areas educated people are likely to interact with less harsh rules, there are still norms. Indeed, the rules are dramatically changing but modern societies are not totally ‘anomic'. Socialization still shape interaction between the sexes but it is interiorized and therefore less obvious. It is not because the state is not dictating norms anymore as far as sexual interactions are concerned that society is not giving any norms or that people do not impose norms to themselves. [...]

[...] Women felt free by wearing the veil because it could empower them (Lama abu Odeh, 1993) but without it they can feel disempowered and lost. There is a need to dissociate modernity and sexual transgression. This dilemma lead to a need to build new images of masculinity and femininity. There is a necessary redefinition of gender because of a lack of rules. This obvious conflict between generations can be highlight by the instance of a mother and her daughter that are in Cyprus for holidays : the mother is veiled on the beach whereas her daughter is half naked (Parshall, 2002). [...]

[...] Therefore, one would not marry someone that is not corresponding to his parents wishes.To sump it up, I disagree with Mernissi statement because it is not universally true for Moroccan society but also because there are still norms ruling sexual interaction even if they are less obvious and less harsh. Implicit codes dictated by society. In a second part, let us discuss Mernissi statement in other Moslem societies.Moslem societies are characterized by societies where the population share the belief in Islam in Africa, the middle East or in Asia. [...]

[...] Do you agree with Mernissi that the modernising Moroccan society she studied in the 1970s provided no norms for heterosexual interaction between the sexes? - How far is this applicable to other Moslem societies you have read about? Gender interactions in Moslem world and in Western societies are often opposed in term of the women place in society. Cultural differences between two world can be underlined but it is not the subject of sociology to evaluate which one of both ways of making gender interacting is the best. [...]