Moroccan Cafes

Almost immediately upon arriving in Casablanca I saw many cafes along the streets with seats lining the sidewalks. As we have traveled through Morocco I have continued to see many of these cafes with outdoor seating, some large with many seats, others small with a couple of seats. The reoccurring theme I noticed with these coffee shops was the heavy male presence sitting outside at what seems like all hours of day. I did notice that there were many older men sitting outside, but there were also many younger, working age men partaking as well. Some shops had tvs outside, some men played games, but the majority seemed to just sit with their tea or coffee, smoking cigarettes, and watched the streets. While many sat together, it did not seem like much conversation was going on. So I began to wonder if this is a cultural phenomena, and where were the women, as I see the same scene in both cities and very rural areas through the bus window.

In an article from the Morocco World News I learned about the history of cafe culture in Morocco. Cafes were introduced by the French, and they soon became a staple across the country(Chechik, 2019). Men incorporated spending time in cafes into their daily routines, and most times if you were looking for someone, the local cafe would be a safe bet to look. Men have been known to start their days at the cafes, and stay the majority of the day into the night(Graiouid, 2007). Cafes were a place were they could discuss the happenings of the medina, politics, and view life on the streets in front of them.

 

 Traditionally public spaces were meant for men to use only. While women can visit these cafes and it has become more common for women to, there is still a strong pull from the old social norm that the cafes are for men. Modern cafes like we are used to in the U.S. have appeared more around Morocco, and there is a stronger presence of women there. Many women still cross the street to avoid walking directly in front of the outside cafe seating due to stares.  Younger generations are starting to bridge the gender gap in these cafes though as Morocco becomes more and more progressive in regards to gender equality. 

As I continue to travel throughout Morocco I plan to look at whether not cafes have men and women there, and whether they are "modern" or more traditional cafes. Women are a part of many things in Morocco, such as politics and shopkeeping, that are popular topics of conversation in the cafes, so it will be interesting to see the assimilation of women into the male dominated cafe culture. Plus, just about everyone enjoys people watching!

Chechik, S. (2019, July 27). Modernizing Morocco's Cafe Culture: The Changing Face of a Social Space. Morocco World News. Retrieved May 31, 2023, from https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2019/07/279205/modernizing-moroccos-cafe-culture-the-changing-face-of-a-social-space

Graiouid, S. (2007). A Place on the Terrace: Cafe Culture and the Public Sphere in Morocco. Journal of North African Studies. https://doi.org/10.1080/13629380701480568