Gender and Society in North Africa and Beyond
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This course is designed to introduce the students to the problematic questions related to gender and gender issues in North African societies in general, but with a particular focus on the Moroccan context. It exposes students to foundational gender and social concepts, and prepares them to engage in discussions of key debates animating the field.
It asks students to examine diverse topics such as language, culture, education, politics, sexuality, youth, development, globalization and resistance in order to understand the formation of social hierarchies, privilege and gender inequality. We will read texts and articles, watch some videos, visit some women’s associations and discuss how gender, modernization and social change, affect North African societies.
Class attendance is compulsory. Each student will be allowed only two unexcused absences throughout the course. For each unexcused absence beyond this there will be a reduction in the final grade. Students who are late to class on a regular basis will also receive a reduction in their final grade and/or disciplinary action.
Students should not exceed 2 absences in each (45 hours) content course.
Students should not exceed 4 absences in the (90 hours) Arabic language course.
Any additional absence would lower the grades as follows:
1 more absence = will lower the final grade by 5 %
2 more absences= will lower the final grade by 10 %
3 more absences = will lower the grade by 15 %
4 more absences = will lower the grade by 20 %
Any additional absences will continue to lower the final grade by 5% increments.
By the completion of this course, students will be able to:
- To acquire a profound knowledge of contemporary feminist scholarship and activism in North Africa and their engagement with power
- To gain a multi-disciplinary understanding of women’s contemporary writings in North Africa
- To learn about Feminist activism in North African in General and Morocco in Particular
- To develop a sense of the complexity of gender issues and the challenges facing a gender-based reform
- To get an understanding of the challenges women facing within the context of “change “ in north Africa and Morocco in particular.
- To develop an individual and critical approach to gender and society issues in North Africa
The course will follow a mixed lecture-seminar format. Meetings consist of lectures, discussions, video screenings and periodic written assignments. Marks will be based on one mid-term test, a research paper on a topic related to the subject of the course and a final exam, in addition to class participation (through formal presentations based on the required readings).
Students must bring copies of all assigned readings to class for discussions.
- Active class participation and attendance - 30%
- Midterm exam - 20%
- Term paper (8-15 pages) - 30%
- Final exam - 20%
Active Class Participation and Attendance
All readings are required and are provided in Moodle. It is vital that all readings be read in full before each class in a way that allows you time to think about the material before coming to discussions. Attendance at all lectures, video screenings, and discussions is mandatory. Students will only receive credit for participation if they make regular, quality contributions to class discussions. There will be periodic writing assignments responding to readings and/or discussion topics as well.
Term Paper
8-15 pages
Midterm Exam
Essay response to questions based on course materials
Final Exam
Essay response to questions based on course materials
Week | Topic | Content |
1 | General Introduction of the Basic Concepts |
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2 | Gender and Moroccan Society between Tradition and Modernization |
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3 |
Gender, Family and the Family Code (Moudawana) |
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4 | Women Challenging Patriarchy: Islamic Feminism and Female Religious Leadership |
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5 | Gender, Sexuality and Islam |
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6 | Gender and Development |
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7 |
Review and Midterm Exam |
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8 | Gender and Space |
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9 | Gender and Education |
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10 | Gender and Political Participation |
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11 | Gender and Youth |
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12 | Gender, The Arab Spring and Social Change |
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13 | Review and Final Exam |
- Ahmed, Leila. Women and Gender in Islam: Historical Roots of a Modern Debate. New Haven and London: Yale University Press, 1992.
- Badran, Margot. Feminists, Islam and Nation. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1995.
- Barlas, Asma. “Qur’anic Hermeneutics and Women’s Liberation,” International Congress on Islamic Feminism, Spain, 2005 (http://www.asmabarlas.com/TALKS/Barcelona.pdf).
- Cooke, Miriam. Women Claim Islam: Creating Islamic Feminism through Literature. New York: Routledge, 2001.
- Mernissi, Fatima. Beyond the Veil: Male-Female Dynamics in Modern Muslim Society. 1975. Intro. Bloomington and Indiana Polis: Indiana University Press, 1987.
- Moghadam, Valentine. Modernizing Women: Gender and Social Change in the Middle East. Boulder: L. Rienner, 1993
- Wadud, Amina. Qur’an and Woman: Rereading the Sacred Text from a Woman’s Perspective, Oxford and New York: Oxford University Press, 1999.
- Mernissi, Fatima, The Veil and the Male Elite: a Feminist Interpretation of Women’s Rights in Islam, Addison-Wesley, 1991