Yber Gendering the February 20Th Movement

yber C yberO rient, Vol. 8, Iss. 1, 2014, pp. 7-25

Gendering the February 20th Movement: Moroccan Women Redefining: Boundaries, Identities and Resistances

Houda Abadi Abstract The Arab Spring opened up social and political spaces for women to make demands for gender quality, political and social reform, human rights, and equality. It has produced, changed and reinvigorated contestations around space, citizenship, femininity, religion, and sense of belonging, as women played an increasingly significant role in the revolutionary processes and developments in the region. This article will analyze the online and offline communication strategies that the February 20th Movement employed to answer the following three questions: a) What is the nature of gendered based demands and how are they articulated in February 20th movement?; b) How did the movement’s activists discursively construct the gendered subjects and what are the material effects of the discourse; and lastly, c) What forms of expression, tools, and channels were used by Moroccan women activists to ensure the inclusion of gender-related issues and demands in political movement? To answer these questions, this qualitative study will take into account the prevailing political, social and economic contexts of Morocco, in an attempt to interpret Moroccan women activists’ experiences, demands, opportunities and constraints and how they contribute to redefining these women’s identities, subjectivities and resistances differently. It uses textual and visual analysis of mediated communication materials obtained from the February 20th movement digital campaign videos and website to document not only women’s representation within the February 20th movement but also explores the various ways subjects are materially and discursively constituted and circumscribed. Lisa Siobhan Irving, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW 2109, Australia. E-mail: lisa [email protected] E-mail: Australia. NSW 2109, Ryde, North Macquarie Irving, Lisa Siobhan University,

Keywords activism, Muslim women, gender, public sphere, Morocco, Arab Spring

Introduction Corresponding author: The “Arab Awakening” or the “Arab Spring,” caught many off guard, toppled

regimes, mobilized masses, and negated many commonly held stereotypes and 7 misconceptions about the region, in general, and Arab women, in particular. how the Arab Spring revolutionary processes openedupsocialand political revolutionary how Spring theArab to secure and socialgains. political tounderstanding This studycontributes pressing,equally ongoing, gender-specific struggle, women’s namely: struggle world, oftheArab takingplace thatisstill inmanyturmoil parts there isan text. beside thepolitical toexaminebecause important This is particularly step, isanecessary gender equality con- inapostrevolutionary especially movements manifest,Examining howSpring Arab express, andnegotiate of gender stereotyping” (Unitednations HumanRights2013). arena, issomething which revolutionary, todecades and somehow contrary last empowered alarger presence women androle toclaim inthepublic EastOfficesaid,Human RightsMiddle uprising hasat long Arab “The 2011; societies(Radsch changing 2012). AsNada Darwazah, from theUN demand betterpositions, andsecure more representation intheirswiftly and Yemen) theirrights, for tocall similarcampaigns have also started been predominantly confined tothedomestic, sphere private (e.g., Libya Tunisia) where andtraditional countries women have tomore conservative inthepublicspherevement andvisibility (e.g., in publiclife Morocco and ofwomen’s hadfrom which arelatively long history countries Arab invol - and religious orientations. andpolitical Likewise, young women activists thousands ofwomen representing different ages, socio-economic profiles, the visibleandsignificant role played by Arab women, withhundreds of was One ofthemostremarkable of thesepopularuprisings characteristics remove dictators. Arab demonstratedtheunprecedentedSpring show of people power to The Arab “stability” proved tobe afailure (UnitedNations HumanRights2013). for autocrats ofcontainment ofArab andbacking des-long western policy MENA’s promise withatrue ofreformanddemocracy. history - The deca andoppression.fear Inthissense, moment in isahistoric Spring theArab spread throughout world, the Arab inthehopesofbreaking of thechains regimesgovernments,autocratic anddictatorial similarmassmovements and inEgypt, one intheregion, ofthelargest countries succeededintoppling intheregion, countries smallest andpopulation, ofbothterritory interms As vastpopularyouth demonstrations andprotests in Tunisia, one ofthe yber C yber O rient, Vol. 8, Iss. 1, 2014

78 Houda Abadi views, (2012)argued thattheseonline Ghannouchi images deconstructed victims who are inneedofwestern saving. the abovementioned Echoing oftheoppressed andpassive women portrayal Arab orientalist to challenge online socialplatforms. asapowerful display These online images served tweeted, uploaded photos, therevolutions andreported through various undergrounddigital andcultural movement flourished. Women blogged, ces of creative activism took on different gendered and an emerging forms to takecontrol oftheir own destinies. Throughout the revolution, instan- withinthemovements andwere totheirparticipation determined visibility womenArab activistsCommunication usedInternet tobring technologies and socialreforms. political made for inaddition tocalls spaces women for and political where were demandsofgender quality being feature withintheseprotests. These protest movements openedupsocial theirlives, risked they thesebrave women made theirpresence adefining to the dangersthemselves of arrest or assault (Khamis 2011). Even though by beinginthefront linesofresistance, theirown lives, risking andexposing freedom. for struggle Rather, gender roles assumednon-stereotypical they gender roles,to stereotypical menintheir orsupporting asnurturing such developments intheregion. Women were notjustconfining themselves processesplayed and significant roleinthe anincreasingly revolutionary space, citizenship, femininity, religion, andsenseofbelonging, aswomen produced,Spring The Arab changed and reinvigorated contestations around Spring:Gender andtheArab Redefining andResistance? Boundaries Literature Review 20thmovement. ofthelarger February demandsaspart gender equality authentic andcreated aspace where andmaleactivists bothfemale placed ‘feminisms.’ feminist ofactivism form were artistic,These new indigenous, kindsof new 20thactivists inthemovement mobilized February democracy official websites, on how Moroccan pro- focus exclusively will article this obtainedfrom 20thmovement materials nication theMoroccan February a regime change. ofmediatedcommuThrough- textualandvisualanalysis spaces women. for for toamovement thatdidnotcall thefocus shift Itwill yber C yber O rient, Vol. 8, Iss. 1, 2014

79 Houda Abadi political empowerment andsecondpolitical lowest on educational attainment and 2012 than in 2011. MENA lowest ranked on economic participation scored theMENAGlobal GenderGapReport in region more poorly (United Nations HumanRights2013). The Economic World Forum’s face afierce opposition propose whenthey lawsthat address women’srights Rights 2013). InLibya, isahuge rape problem electedofficials andfemale (UnitedNationsyoung Human theirsafety daughtersoutofconcern for ofsecurity.ned duetolack For example, their many familiesare marrying practicesretur andthatharmful - tion theuprising ofwomen isworse after Rights) regional meeting, thatthesitua- reported participant anEgyptian women. (OfficeoftheHigh AtCommissioner forHuman a2012OHCHR security, oppressive practices returned and reproduced of marginalization equal totheirmalecounterparts”fully (Alamm 2012:14). of toalack Due and thesecond toobtainareal changeoftheirsocietalstatustobecome autocracy, men,“unlike women face two battles:change for political the first womenAlthough Arab alongside fought mentoovercome dictatorshipand ofwomen ofsexualassaultsandterrorization activists. gravity state’s testing(Amar 2011:300). virginity Ablindeye tothe wasturned in terrorized Tahrir demonstrations Square andhad toundergo thesecurity harassed, andraped. tortured For exampleinEgypt, women activists were fromchallenges their male counterparts. of the women Some activists were place in society. Not surprisingly, activists female faced a different set of some ofwhom adopt arestrictive agenda on women’s issuesandwomen’s state,tion andthesecurity Islamic groups ofpolitical topower, andtherise constraints,structural institutionalization ofprotest movements,- militariza mindset inmanysocieties, Arab stagnant traditions, economic- andinfra face still women, challenges Many serious astheprevailingpatriarchal such asthe been described “Arab Winter” women’s for (CARE rights 2013). concrete transitional processes, gaininsome political inothercases, ithas marked activism anupsurgeby ofnew women Spring and theArab While representationsorientalist women ofthe Arab are imagined. only Through their participation,active online andoffline they showed thatthese the perception women ofthe Arab as powerless, invisible, andvoiceless. yber C yber O rient, Vol. 8, Iss. 1, 2014

107 Houda Abadi Morocco: 20thMovement The RiseoftheFebruary videos Movement digitalcampaign mediated communication obtainedfrom 20th materials theFebruary This qualitative, of feminist study relied on atextualandvisualanalysis Methods struggle. theheightofrevolutionary during andloosemanymighthave ofthegains they gained marginalized regularly (Al-Ali2012).no surprise Women transitionsare postrevolutionary during (World Eco not been immune to the revolutionary waves ofprotests not beenimmune shaking theArab totherevolutionary Morocco, long considered tobeone countries, ofthe moststableArab has women’s identities, subjectivitiesandresistances differently. toredefining andconstraints andhowcontribute they these opportunities Moroccanwomenin anattempttointerpret activists’ experiences, demands, account theprevailingpolitical, socialandeconomic contexts ofMorocco, these questions, movement? In answering in political take into this study will men activistsofgender-related toensure the inclusion issuesanddemands ofexpression, forms What tools, were andchannels usedby Moroccanwo- ofthediscourse?; andwhatareeffects constructed thematerial c) andlastly 20thmovement?;in February b) How are thegendered subjectsdiscursively isthenature ofgendered baseddemandsandhow areWhat articulated they 20thMovement fromFebruary toanswer three thefollowing questions: a) circumscribed. thecommunication employed strategies by Ianalyzed the constituted and and discursively subjectsare ways materially the various processes 20th movement andgendering toexplorewithin theFebruary to documentwomen’sI usedvisualandtextualanalysis representation street protests. webpage 20th movement the main February sources Internet including used several ). BecomesaPunishment (My MakhzenandMe475 Marriage When Ialso Are We ) andtwo filmsdirected 20th activist by Nadir Bouhmouch February yber Mamfakinch, activists’ blogsand YouTube videosthatcaptured nomic Forum 2012). historically, Viewed results such come as 2 waslimitedtothemovement’sThe timeframe first year C yber O rient, Vol. 1 I am Moroccan I will Protest and Who (IamMoroccan IwillProtest 8, Iss. 1, 2014

117 Houda Abadi disallow access. how and address discourses are organized the processes thatallow or 20th movement’s enable us to examine use of different media platforms dom, education, economic socialjustice, andgender equality.February The and toMoroccan identity values,’‘Moroccan making claims asfree such - basedon ethnicity,sity language, gender, andclass, whilesimultaneously social media platforms. for universal values of divercalled - Their videos national andstatesymbols, promo videos, films, protest signs, anddifferent and unifying, 20thmovement usedmusic, the February reappropriation of of subjugation andsilencing. To makeitsmessages audible, meaningful, movement brought thehiddenlayers tothesurface patterns ofunreported the stateandtoencouragereformulation ofthese power relations. The power inrelation majordemonstrations ofcitizen for todenouncelack to repressionce duetomediacensorshipandpolitical inMorocco. called They of forms andcomplemented resistan- themwithofflineformats aesthetical 20th activists The voiced their counter narratives in digitalized February testors tothestreets todemandgreater reform andsocialjustice. political thousandsofpro- movement mobilized 20thprodemocracy the February situation (Maghrouisociopolitical 2011). InsidetheMoroccan kingdom, inpopularattitudesregardinga majorshift themonarchy andthecurrent buttheappealofmovement withintheMoroccanstreetsnew signaled protests 20thmovement sparked inMoroccopolitical theFebruary are not agenuine for constitutionalme butinstead monarchy. called The socialand Egypt, andLibya, theMoroccan activists didnotdemandachange ofregi- a national march majorcities. inall in Unliketheircounterparts Tunisia, ning dissatisfaction withthemonarchy’s topdown approach, for andcalled exceptionality,”“Moroccan created videosexplai- online digitalcampaign vists, 20th Movement,known as the February stood against the so called Inspired by the Tunisian revolutions, andEgyptian young Moroccanacti- andeconomic ofsociopolitical problems. interms countries its neighboring legitimacy, in Morocco landscape shares the political much in common with regimes.political enjoyed Although the Moroccan monarchy has historically yber C yber O rient, Vol. 8, Iss. 1, 2014

127 Houda Abadi cal consciousness.cal Political in socialmovements hasthree analytical identity politi- and raising mobilization for important becomes empirically identity dividedon issues ofreformandthusthecreation ofacollective heavily ofMorocco’sBecause divisions, andeducational vastclass thepublicis asaCommunicativeA Gendered Strategy Collective Identity economic socialjusticeandfreedom. 20th movement activists redefined todignity, nationalism andpatriotism withinthenation.corruption the oldmessage, Byaltering young February VI titleof ofthePoor.’‘King and ofpoverty Ithighlightedtheseverity same time, asanindirect totheKingMohammed critique italsoserved the regime’s accusation thattheseyoung activists were terrorists. At the movement’s re-appropriation wasadirect ofthestatesymbol response to nation’s Children” and “Don’t stealfrom myCountry.” 20th The February message: anew andinserted ated thissamesymbol “Don’t our suffocate and oneness of Morocco. The movementre-appropri- and its supporters circulated Fatmahighly represented handstatesymbol amessage ofunity to translates “Don’t myCountry.” touch thesedifficulttimes, During the to that translates “don’t my buddy” touch and the other one that in Arabic two messages:included inFrench one written Ne pasamon touche pote green nationalism) (colorsoftheMoroccanflagsymbolizing Fatma hand transgression toprotect their brothers, sistersandtheircountry. The red and peopleasonetostandtogether peoplewilling andfightagainstanycan terrorist attacks,lanca emerged a nationalthatunitedtheMoroc symbol - its protest videos and during marches.its campaign the 2003 Casab- After example, Fatma’s 20thmovement usedheavily theFebruary in handsymbol counternarrative. andofferedand theexistingsocialstructures acritical For itsattentional narrative focused away from theprescribedofficialnarrative asresources themovement. for shared meaningandserves turally This visu- identities.and shapingpolitical The visualfunctions from auniverse of cul- videos andprotests their subjects played role ininterpolating animportant campaign The visualexpression 20thmovement within ofthe February Strategies 20thMovement andits The February Visual yber C yber O rient, Vol. 8, Iss. 1, 2014

137 Houda Abadi ces ofyoung women andmenkeepchanging, eachone speakinginfirst Moroccans to beequal”all Protests (IamMoroccan Video 2011). The fa- and states: amMoroccan.“I Iwant 20th because Iammarching February Protests(I amMoroccan Video 2011). Ayoung Boulghabi man follows want aMorocco thatbelongs ofus. toall No toHateand Yes toEquality” she states amMoroccan;“I I Iamgoing 20thbecause outon February 20thmovement.ding memberoftheFebruary inthefirstperson, Speaking videoopenedwithayoungcampaign woman, Amina Boulghabi,- afoun nationalistand challenged andmonolithic narratives. For example, thefirst fueled a Collective Identity”“Moroccan statemyths thatdeconstructed different Moroccanpublic(s).practicemovement media ofthe Thecultural imagesmoving indemonstrations tonegotiate andnavigate between the ture, socialmedia, adoption languages (Amazigh oflocal andDaarija), and As such, in popularcul- 20thactivists embeddedthemselves theFebruary cultural toinfluencepublicdiscourseand resonance.achieve as astrategy beliefs, values, public cultures. and local employed identity It strategically incultural 20thmovement groundedlegitimacy The itspolitical February nomic justice. womenfor social andeco- asa team tofight the battle and men partnered As such, women’s andinstead issueswere totheperiphery notmarginalized andconstitutional reforms.of thelarger discussion ofMoroccancitizenry social justice, andethnicgender equality. part became Genderequality withvaluesoffreedom,tions andequatedMoroccan citizenry economic top-down andstateco-optation state-imposeddesiredofinstitu- citizen change. topushfor a communicative strategy The activists questioned the 20thmovement deployedThe a as gendered collective identity February culture, itscategories, values, andpractices. Jasper 2001). anddeployed totransform beusedasaprotest Itcan strategy pants’ actions and building cohesions within actors over time (Polletta and role inmeaningmaking, animportant plays tity - shapingmovement partici ment isessentialinorder socialchange. toachieve Assuch, collective iden- goal 2008:277). (Bernstein Asenseofwe-ness orconnection tothemove- levels: identity for empowerment, for identity deployment, identity asa and identity yber C yber O rient, Vol. 8, Iss. 1, 2014

147 Houda Abadi She states: She older woman toprotest. tobebeatenandabusedby herright thepolicefor system.corrupt as one doesnotexpect an Hernarrative wasaffect-driven theabuseof the personawhoissuffering ofaMoroccangrandmother took thelongest andismoststriking. tonarrate interms inhabited She to protest. the right for (Moroccan dialect) and called Her personal story campaign videoendswithanolder woman first whospoke inDaarija to invite frames the movement used identity narratives enableustotakeadiscursive approachThese digitalized on how within theirrespective widerstruggle. women’s articulated vists strategically demands and gender specific needs 20thmovement acti how- theFebruary illustrate videosclearly campaign rights, rights. on therestrictions on themediaandminority alift These de: freedom, gender equality, betterlivingstandards andeducation, labor video,- listtheirmotives behindmarching inclu which activists specifically narratives ofnationhood. campaign IntheirIamMoroccan andIwillProtest narratives, thatbreak histories away from andbuildlocal hegemonic state can” on Moroccanstogive upoldimaginary, andcalling remold national nation wascommunicated through cultivatingtheexpression amMoroc“I - nuanced collective gendered understanding of Moroccanness. to the Loyalty ofposition, andinsistenceoffixity with itsdefensive closure withamore ons and gender equality. was redefined through Identity replacing the‘I am,’ of contestations- andprotests-allowing thediversification ofidentificati for withinthesevideos call reconfiguresThe through national aculture identity demands. stating their reasons marching. for isamong theirmany Genderequality by theirMoroccanness andfollowing person whilebeginningby claiming Moroccan Video ProtestMoroccan Video 2011) a peaceful protest, by and was beaten and harassed the police.” (I am don’t understandwhy andabusedinmycountry. Iamafraid Iwasin toprotesttried againstthehighprices, I abusedme. theauthorities I going toprotest... are me.food prices killing The high time Every amMoroccanandI going 20th. outon“I theFebruary I am yber C yber O rient, Vol. 8, Iss. all people to participate. The 1, 2014

157 Houda Abadi the February Movement feminist understanding. Movement feminist the February The Moroccan liberal Familymovements thatpushed for Codechanges (Moudawana)and Law There isastark feminist difference between theolder Moroccan liberal ofsocial andeconomic justice(Salime, inthestruggle partners 2012:105). outby women andiscarried andmenas spaces organizations offeminist ce. feminism seemstoemerge offromtype outsideofthetraditional This womenfor socioeconomic with menintheirfight are justi- equalpartners wherein citizenship on the Moroccan public to practice critical vists call places women’s demandsandneedsattheforefront. The movement’s acti- 20th movement’s ofthe The framing ofequality goals in terms February Performing ofGendered form Citizenship anew class, divides). gender andideological by asenseofintersectionality (youth andoldergeneration thatcutacross inspired subjectivitiesthatisbasedon ofinclusion extensivepolitical forms and senseofcitizenship These videosproposeevolving adiscussion ofthe rights.contract andopposestoken citizenship nationalism offull devoid ofsocial type more toendorseanew inclusive andcollective will citizenship express massive adherence a new of the Moroccan people with a notion of join theprotest. To inspire otherstojointheprotests, isinvoked identity to inaction. on themto totheMoroccan peopleandcalls appealeddirectly She the system, solidify commitment, and state of fear the cultural and challenge codesandbecomes existingcultural apowerful modetochallenge founds strong sense of involvement, commitment, and strength. This image con- woman withactivism andmobilization. Yet, thewoman’s a voice portrays Moroccan soft-spoken associateanelderly as one doesnotautomatically the other, animagefreedom. ofamilitantfor Inaway herimage ishalting, on. On the one hand, she represents mother, an image of a nurturing and on contenti andengage- inpolitical audience asenseofconfidence tomobilize toanolder womanfor support, appeals The shift action, inthe andinstills andfreedom protests theright andassemble. for topeacefully called concrete for changes, Unlike material others in the video who called she yber C yber O rient, Vol. 8, Iss. 1, 2014

167 Houda Abadi rights because no one will bring my rights tomyhome. myrights noone bring will because rights intheprotest fight about my One woman soIcan statesIamparticipating antiterrorism lawstopolicebrutality, freedom, andequalrepresentation. vances range from corruption, unemployment, human rights, use of illegal - andtheirgrie dividedinnumberbetween maleandfemale and are equally toProtest speak inDaarija (Call 2012)all HamamCasablanca inSahat in protests.women why beparticipating will they inthisvideo Interviewees race, language andclass. For example, 20thactivists askmenand February thatmightbeproducedes ofexclusion on thebasisofage, religion, gender, racy. sensitive tothe issu- The younger generational activists are particularly democ- withinthebroader andposition for structure themselves struggles 2013:7). (Skalli also distance themselves but they questionThey thepower women’s and successes of the liberal acknowledge the struggles movement law changes andinstitutions. Young menandwomen withinthemovement ture from on theolder Moroccan women solely movement thatfocused expressionartistic ofprotests. Inasense, asadepar- becharacterized itcan mic andnegotiation ofidentities, ideologies, useofsocialmedia, andtheir - tonotbecooptedbutalsoinits generational dyna and itconscious effort initsunderstandingofstatepower movement notonly the olderfeminist Women’s 20thmovement differentiates activism itselffrom intheFebruary and agenda socialchange. for are andassuch limitedwiththeircritiques Moroccan kingasanarbitrator constitution.when the King made a new announcement for the view They nist movements in Morocco that work within state frameworks; especially coopted by the state. As a consequence,- femi for challenge this poses a true and social repressionat large accountable political for and refuses to be the regime corruption, for andsocialwoes. poverty Itholdsthegovernment Having no constraints, 20th movement is not shy the February to critique has the desire 2012:108). to overthrow those same institutions (Salime wherewithin thegovernment 20thmovement framework astheFebruary movement seeschangethroughfeminist stateinstitutions andworking not isolated in their struggle for gender equality; they carved animpor- carved they gender for equality; not isolatedin theirstruggle of feminism, this type With women 20th movement were in the February yber C yber O rient, Vol. 8, Iss. 1, 2014 3

177 Houda Abadi socio-economic justice, andhuman rights. thatdemandslegitimacy, claim and become astepping-stone afurther for nected. These simple, acts diminishstate’s butmeaningful govermentality around them. andintercon- intertwined The selfand thepublicbecame of selfviatheprotestorsconstructed ties andconstruction they andreality - stage incollectivi thatinvited participation toaperformative transformed inthedemonstration. participate ous unknowingly Assuch, thestreets were walkedorcrossedthey thestreets; theones makingeven thatwere- justcuri and bystanders walking bypedestrians had to interact withtheprotestors as their bodieswere intimeandspace. frozen occupiedpublicspace, Asthey before in the Maghreb region. itcalled They for democracy’ ‘freeze because ‘perform’ their message with utter silence-something seen that wasnever Freedom 2011). The female and male young activists usedtheirbodiesto entitled:front parliament oftheRabat Democracy“Freeze for ” (Freeze For andviolence,of disunity act in aperformative themovement organized as aresponse tothegovernment’s allegations ofthemovement’s creation of powerit to systems that is readily consumed anddiffused. For example, of aesthetic resistance, questioned of they theconstruction ‘truth’ andrelate embodiment, spoken word, graffiti, andstreet theater. forms Through these through of differentforms aesthetic asstreetresistance such theater, flag activists theirdemandsandexpressedconsciousness channeled political traditional representations.men thatchallenged feminist Young female wo for - modes of engagementmovement’s involved high visibility artistic lization, creativity, anddecision-making. organization 20th The February of presence of womenart in the streets of mobi- levels was visible at all toofflineaswell whereThese spilled gendered the online performances old power ofhistorical, structures social, hegemonies. and cultural racial,deconstructed class, andgender identitiesthatreproduce thesame spectrum: young, old, unveiled, veiled, poor, rich, Arab, andAmazigh. They The images from theprotests andvideos represented women from awide their digitalcampaigns, there wasanequalnumberofmaleandfemale. representation, decision-making, mobilizations, anddebate. Inmostofthe role.important oftheaspectsmovement: withinall participated They withinthemovement wheretant spacethemselves play for they anequally yber C yber O rient, Vol. 8, Iss. 1, 2014

187 Houda Abadi light tohow patriarchy becomes aforce influencingattitudesand laws. The lowed from poison marriage rat asaway toescape herrapist. The filmsheds a 15-year-old young ofAmina womanvideo tracedthelife Filali, whoswal- poverty. andrural inface ofsocialexclusions theirsubjectivity articulate The theinfluenceand role ofpatriarchy andhowunderlines Moroccan women Bouhmouch’s film475, acclaimed (2013) BecomesPunishment Marriage When of numbers. ways. ithasbrought isbittersweet dropThis withdrawal because adramatic of women’s andmade role friction thempart withinthemovement caused andmany ways say andunderstanding that gender dynamics Ihsan parted gly, 20thmovement andAdlwal thisisnolongerastheFebruary thecase amovement thatsawwomen for atitsforefront.transformation Interestin- were no longer intheprotests 2012). raised (ElIdrissi To her, thiswasabig agendarights slogans and influencedthe gender gender equality negatively ( JusticeandCharity) Ihsan wal 20thactivist confirms that February Adl working outsidethestateframework). According Moroccan toafemale with of emphasis on women andstatesitmightbeduetotheircollaboration Interestingly, 20thmovement lack by theFebruary critiquing heconcludes 20thmovement andwomenon theFebruary inMorocco, hestates: artist, (McManus2013). andfeminist abouthistwo movies Inaninterview 20th activist,and the February Nadir Bouhmouch, sees himself as an activist, too. asfeminists label themselves For example, theyoung malefilmmaker Similarly, many 20thmovement ofthemaleactivists within theFebruary havefor tofight women’srights...” (McManus2013). alone,for democracy of fighting into the trap fall we also because for democracy. inthefight andespecially society But we shouldnot women’s rights, must aspectsof butthey inall involve themselves come handinhand.democracy Womenfor shouldnotjustfight thefilm, for Riyadi toldusinherinterview women’srights and andsocioeconomic political equity. for greater struggle AsKhadija “Women are half of society, women for is half of the so the struggle Adl walIhsan(anIslamistmovement demandingchangeaswell and yber C yber O rient, Vol. 8, Iss. 1, 2014

197 Houda Abadi become constitutive tropes mobilization. for expressed within Pluralism as institutional are changessince they and socialimaginaries asimportant ture, toinvoke meaningofcitizenship. a politicized andideology Language national languages,of various appropriation ofnational symbols, popcul- theuse 20thusheredrangeThe awide of thatincluded repertoires February understanding ofpoliticsand women’s status withintheMoroccan public. togenerateanew andnarratives locally foremost ground their grievances to ‘real’ citizenship. overemphasisTheir of“Moroccanness” istofirstand and a claim identity to establish a political served both of its campaigns the movement’s heavyrepetition of anddependency amMoroccan”“I in theMoroccan public.and narratives tomobilize examined, Aspreviously andAmazigh) languages and summoned (Daarija indigenouslocal symbols 20thmovement tailoredThe itscommunicative messages with February live thePeopleDiscussion andConclusion: Long 3achaalShab! understandingofgender thepatriarchic dignity.and challenged protestors poured thestreets ofMorocco anddemandedgender equality andsocial consciousness.online raisepolitical andofflineto Thousandsof and Fadoua as Amina such Filali to cases Larouai byvisibility mobilizing 2012). 20thmovement broughtThe national andinternational February bodies, sexuality, mobility, lives” andthepracticesoftheireveryday (Skalli ordertheir moral (Benhabib 84). becomes in women’s Dignity “inscribed siteuponsocietiesinscript which human passages andasymbolic-cultural Women and their bodies become sites of contestation and gatekeepers of gendered where honor dignity andshamebecome themainpreoccupation. of Amina andFadoua show ustheconsequences defined of apatriarchic the became Mohammed Bouazzizi”“Moroccan 2011). (Lalami case The 2012).in protest (Skalli againstsocioeconomic inequality To some, Laroui status. LarouiisthefirstArab woman known tohave setherself on fire tobeduehermarital tosocialhousinginwhatwasbelieved the right two children, Fadoua Laroui couldnotbeartheinjusticeofbeingdenied tion ofthesinglemother Fadoua 2011). Laroui(February Asamotherof to the self-immola- ofAmina 20thactivistsFilali linkedthecase February yber C yber O rient, Vol. 8, Iss. 1, 2014

207 Houda Abadi mysoginist laws andpressured change.mysoginist political for twoThese victims older Moroccan women’s andprotested movements thatrallied against laws. andpatriarchic gynist 20thmovement andnotthe ItwastheFebruary Filali’s suicide and Fadoua Laroui’s self-immolation to highlight the miso- andsocialreform.on political ofAmina stories Ithighlightedthetragic anational for debate withintheMoroccan streets offear chains andcalled In general, 20th movement was successful in breaking the February the the message worked strategies withintheMoroccan audiences. challenging patriarchic customs. patriarchic challenging toexaminewhetherthere in isany real epistemic shift public isnecessary 20thactivists butalsomembersofthe Moroccan theFebruary with notonly present asanoutcome ofcontinuous struggles. Assuch, in-depthinterviews 20thmovement faces andthinkofthe theFebruary examine theobstacles challenges.serious For women’s furthering in Morocco, rights we need to up approach and social mindsets, cultural in changing it continues to face changes.tical 20thmovement usedabottom Even thoughtheFebruary the state, entrenched customs, challenge patriarchic andpressure poli- for anditsrelationship inhow citizenship to Moroccansinterpret temic shift women’s enableafundamentalepis- ifthey way lives only inameaningful However, Moroccan 20thmovement isabletotransform theFebruary 2012). inthenational debateaboutreforms (AlIdrissi and participated Guelmim, Safi,Larache, Sidi Ifniand protestsTetouan experiences as well state power withintheMoroccan Kingdom; towns asSeffrou, smaller such streets ofCasablanca. The movement hasextendedthespaceforcontesting taking place across borders, various from remote villages tothe southern lic discourse. Discussions aboutwomen’s have notwavered rights andare brought humanrights, tothefieldofpub- politicsandsocialissuesback Through ofprotests, itsforms aesthetic 20thmovement the February consciousness. collective action for political as aframe andfor traditional customs, rituals, and symbols. situatedtheir They actions locally by torebuild thatisenriched acommon ismobilized identity cultural sity their communication through strategies diver itsmanifestations ofcultural - yber C yber O rient, Vol. 4 Further work isneededtoassesswhether 8, Iss. 1, 2014

217 Houda Abadi accessed September 30,accessed September 2013. new-report-arab-spring-or-arab-autumn-women-middle-east-and-north-africa, CARE, Africa? East and North 10. September http://reliefweb.int/report/world/ CARE 2013. Autumn or Arab for NewReport:Women Spring Arab intheMiddle com/watch?v=-XMfMQ1THDg, 25, accessed September 2013. to ProtestCall 2012. Hamam Casablanca in Sahat file. Video http://www.youtube. L.,Rachel eds. Einwohner. Minneapolis: ofMinnesota. University Framework. Bernstein, 2008. Mary A Dimensions ofIdentity: Identity The Analytical Political International Feminist ofPolitics Journal 13(3):299. Amar, Paul 2011. Turning theGendered InsideOut? Politics State ofthe Security Qatar Foundation Publishing. Women andNewMedia. News: inArab Stereotypes Old Doha: Bloomsbury Al-Malki Amal, David, Kaufer Suguru, Ishizaki andDreherKreher 2012. Arab accessed December1, 2013. org/sites/default/files/International%20Women%27s%20Day%202012_4.pdf, HeidemanandMonaKendra Youssef, eds. Pp. 14. http://www.wilsoncenter. ctions on Women Spring: in the Arab Women’s Voices from Around the World. Alamm, Wafa 2012. announcer on Bahraini Almaydeen News Channel. & Communication 5(1):26–31. Al-Ali, Nadje 2012. Spring. theArab Gendering ofCulture EastJournal Middle Revolution.the Egyptian Feminist 37(3):683–691. Studies 2011. Lilaand El-Mahdi Rabab Abu-Lughod Beyond the “Woman Question” in References andrights. of citizenship understanding ofthelarger andissuesare debateon thecritical rights part Morocco.of a new 20th movement demonstrates, As the February women’s demands were atthecore 20thmovement’s oftheFebruary visions andideas ofgender,showcase theintersectionality andoppression. poverty Women’s yber Identity WorksIn Identity Movements. inSocial JoReger, DanielJ. Myers, and C yber O rient, Vol. 8, Iss. 1, 2014 In Refle-

227 Houda Abadi ces from the Global Fight for for ces fromWomen’s the GlobalFight Rights. New York: Press. Stories Seven Minky, Worden Amanpour 2012. andChristiane Revolution:The Unfinished Voi- watch?v=S0f6FSB7gxQ, 25, accessed September 2013. #moroccoMorocco #feb20 2011. campaign file. Video http://www.youtube.com/ in-morocco/, 1, accessed September 2013. Council. N.p., n.d. http://blogs.ssrc.org/tif/2011/05/23/ducking-the-arab-spring- Maghraoui, Abdeslam2011. Spring. Ducking The Arab Science Research Social moroccan-mohamed-bouazizi#, accessed October1, 2013. Nation, 27. February http://www.thenation.com/blog/158878/fadoua-laroui- Lalami, 2011. Laila Fadoua Laroui: The Moroccan Mohammed Bouazzi. The Khamis, 2011. Sahar The Arab“Feminist” Spring? Studies37(3):692-695. Feminist february-20-movement-reflections-of-young-activist, accessed October 1, 2013. OpenDemocracy, March 30. http://www.opendemocracy.net/5050/sarra-el-idrissi/ El Idrissi, 2012. Sarra 20th Movement: February Reflections ofa Young Activist. Nebula 1:283. Isam, 2011. Shihada Women Spring: andtheArab Expectations andConcerns. November 25, 2013. https://www.youtube.com/watch? file. v=mZm750joM0U&list=FLey8yasfI0GQIGJp01t1SLA&index=2, accessed Video Protest. Video Moroccan am I 25,accessed September 2013. Freeze Freedom for 2011. file. Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxR7dkocjec, Moroccan experience. 38(4/5):525–533. Criticism Philosophy &Social Guessous, Nouzha 2012. Women’s inMuslimsocieties: rights from the Lessons London: Guardian Books. Spring:Arab Rebellion, order. world Revolution andanew Toby Manhire, ed. Ghannouchi, 2012. Soumaya Female protesters are stereotypes. shattering InThe Affairs 18(1):215–228. Coleman, Isobel2011. Women Revolts. andtheArab Brown of Journal World yber C yber O rient, Vol. 8, Iss. 1, 2014

237 Houda Abadi October 1, 2013. accessed WomenandtheArabspringanongoingstruggleforequalrights.aspx, Struggle for Equal Rights. http://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/ United Nations HumanRights2013. Women Spring: andtheArab anongoing Steavenson, Wendall 2012. Two Revolutions. New Yorker 88(35):32–38. youtube.com/watch?v=Lli6YpMjGO8, 1, accessed September 2013. 2011. 20thCampaign Moroccan February Video Second file. Video https://www. Communication 6:1–10. Negotiating Identities, Spaces, andPower. of Culture EastJournal and Middle Skalli, 2013. Loubna Youth, MediaandthePolitics ofChange Africa: inNorth demanding-justice-and-dignity_by-all-m, accessed October1, 2013. Jaadaliya March 29. http://www.jadaliyya.com/pages/index/4854/young-women- Skalli, 2012. Loubna Young Women Means. ByAll DemandJustice and Dignity: 20th Movement. ofInternational Journal Women’s Studies, 13(5):101 –114. Salime, 2012. Zakiya ANewFeminism?inMorocco’s GenderDynamics February inMorocco.Law Minneapolis: ofMinnesotaPress. University Salime, 2011. Zakiya Between Feminism andIslam: HumanRightsandSharia James A. Policy Public Institute for Research, BakerIII Atlanta, May 17. Role of Women Uprisings. intheArab Paper presented attheRiceUniversity Radsch, 2012. Courtney Unveiling theRevolutionaries: Activism Cyber andthe conference, Washington D.C., Dec1–4. Egypt. Paper Association (MESA) EastStudies annual presented attheMiddle Radsch, 2011. Courtney Re-Imagining Cleopatra: in Cyberactivism Gendering ments. 27(1):283–305. ofSociology Annual Review Polletta, Francesca andJamesJasper2001. Move- andSocial Collective Identity October 1, 2013. index/10234/exposing-sexual-violence-in-morocco_an-interview-w, accessed with Nadir Bouhmouch. Jadaliyya, 17. February http://www.jadaliyya.com/pages/ McManus, Allison L. 2013. inMorocco: Violence ExposingSexual An Interview yber C yber O rient, Vol. 8, Iss. 1, 2014

247 Houda Abadi 4 3 2 1 Notes November 25, 2013. http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_GenderGap_Report_2012.pdf, accessed World Economic Forum 2012. World 2012. Economic GenderGapReport vists, politiciansaswell aspeoplefrom publics. thesubaltern 20th acti- fieldworkducting dissertation February in Morocco interview andwill 20thactivists. beconducted will withFebruary face toface interviews 2011. 20thCampaign Moroccan February Video 2012,mam Casablanca #morocco Morocco #feb20 2011 and Second campaign This article is part ofalarger project ispart Iamcurrently working on.This article becon Iwill - toProtest Call 2012. HamamCasablanca See inSahat project ofthelarger dissertation where part in-depth asmall This studyis only are ofthevideocampaigns availableonline, All toProtest seeCall Ha- inSahat yber C yber O rient, Vol. 8, Iss. 1, 2014

257 Houda Abadi