Multiple families in changing societies in the Maghreb: The case of Morocco

Abstract

Taking into account relevant old references such as the Arab Family and the challenge of change (Barakat, 1993;1985), trying to discuss the basic characteristics of the Arab family not only as a central socioeconomic unit, but mainly as a microcosm of the demographic transformation of the society, as well as the first and intimate educational space for the creation of the self and the identity (Caputo, 2006), we move into the complex and delicate subject of the evolving contemporary families in the Maghreb. First of all, we try to analyze the difficult reformulation, within the families, of educational models and values. Nowadays, we are faced with new and multiple typologies of families in the Maghreb, shifting from the traditional models of the Arab and Islamic society to families quite far from such models.Within this context, we start from the meaningful work conducted for years by the Arab Families Working Group (AFWG, 2008;, trying to understand the links between gender and family in the Arab world, going back to the patriarchy and up to the deep demographic, social and cultural transformations of the last fifty years in the Arab countries.Within the Maghreb, we choose to focus on Morocco in order to understand that besides the demographic changes and many other transformations such as the quick urbanization, the degree of gender participation and an important change of the values, families are very much changing not only as far as their structures are concerned, but also as far as the relationships among their members. 1 The modernization of a country like Morocco is one of the most visible aspects. The Moroccan main towns are the core of this "modernity" showing at the meantime the most engaging promises and the most paradoxical poverty. Most of the political discourses, as well as the discourses of the media and the civil society, are based on the idea of "progress," together with ideas of democratization, gender equalities, education, good governance.So, today more than in any other period, we need a realistic vision of the changing society, able to promote initiatives and to assume risks, including the positive aspects of both the "modernity" and the original identity of the country. Within this framework, the King of Morocco Mohammed VI has called for many values of the so-called "modernity" 2 among which is the notion of "responsible citizenship." With such premises, a focus on Morocco is very relevant because the country, during the last years, is not only at the core of a very meaningful and original social and cultural change process,

Transcultural and familial factors in bilingualism and language transmission: A qualitative study of maternal representations of French-Maghrebi Arabic bilingual children

“…The concept of family contrasts with some Arabic meanings such as 'family' (ahal), 'household' (bayt) and 'kin group' ('a'ila) (Young & Shami, 1997). In the Maghreb, such as in Morocco, three generations often cohabit in a same home (Gandolfi, 2015). Family relationships are complex, multigenerational, include dense informational transfer via language and are variable and influenced by cultures (Flinn, 2011).…”

Dzieciństwo w Maroku

“…Modele marokańskiej rodziny są obecnie wynikiem wielowiekowego dążenia do postępu w stylu zachodnim i walki o równouprawnienie. Jak dodaje Gandolfi, zmianie uległa głównie struktura rodziny i relacje pomiędzy poszczególnymi jej członkami na tle ewoluującego systemu wartości, stopnia partycypacji ze względu na płeć i urbanizacji widocznej głównie w miastach 31 .…”