By Abdellah Zbir
By Abdellah Zbir
Morocco World News
Chicago, Nov 23, 2012
The distinction between man and woman is not a simple biological identification of gender. It is a dilemma with hypothetical propositions and multiple perceptions. Everywhere in this world, sexes are defined, represented, valued and channeled into different directions. This presents a burden on our intellectuals to introduce the most possible balanced approach to issues of gender.
Activists and successful feminine figures should take over the stage to tell us: Here are the Moroccan women who believe in hard work and commitment. Here are the moms, daughters, wives, sisters and the grandmas that we can be proud of as Moroccans. These women can challenge and compete on high level to have the positive influence on our perceptions and give us hope again that our society is safe and that our values are to be kept for generations.
The current debate and concern on Moroccan women should direct the media to respond to the growing demand of Moroccan women to portray their true image on our screens and have us listen to their stories of success on our radio streams and balance the alarming growing stereotyping of their negative influence. In the west, Arab women in general are perceived to be submissive and oppressed. Here, in Morocco, the conception of women is being associated with a significant presence of sex which can be destructive and cause serious harm to our society.
For many, the current representation of women on our screens or on our newspapers cannot be seen and admitted to be a realistic reflection of our Moroccan ladies. As the media can disempower the needed strength and involvement of women and constrain their efforts and initiatives; it can also construct a solid structure that allows the respect and admiration of their impressive roles in our society. The question again is how to raise the awareness and concern of public on feminism and how to incorporate gender not only in media, but also in the workplace, in education, in politics and in arts. Actually, in every single discipline.
Essential to our success in our understanding of sociocultural complexities is our sensitivity to details and our pursuit of objectivity. In fact, Moroccan women are caught between two extremes; the traditional perception of women that denies her the freedom of choice and responsibility and the current view that objectifies her fine qualities. A woman now can sell your car, gain your newspaper huge profits or at worse scenarios be used by a malicious hand. Paradoxically, or rather ironically, both ideologies consider, implicitly and explicitly, her body to be their battle field.
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