Gender stereotypes and youth voices in Morocco: masculinity, law, and social change

This article explores how Moroccan youth understand and experience gender stereotypes, focusing on the ways young men critique norms of masculinity that constrain them. Based on interviews and focus groups with 60 young Moroccans across diverse backgrounds, the research investigates the intersection between gender stereotypes, support for gender hierarchies, and their impact on daily interactions and societal norms. Findings reveal how these stereotypes not only reinforce women's subordination but also impose pressures on men, particularly around financial responsibility and emotional restraint. While such norms are deeply embedded in Moroccan society and remain central to how youth imagine gender roles, many participants, especially men, expressed discomfort with them. Additionally, male resistance to increased women's rights often stemmed less from ideological opposition and more from economic anxiety and social pressure. The paper argues that masculinity is a critical yet underexplored site for advancing gender justice in Morocco. Considering the country's pending Family Code reform, this research highlights the importance of including youth perspectives, especially male voices navigating these tensions, in ongoing debates around gender equality and legal reform.