CAES Morocco: Advanced Leadership Theories, Ethics, and Culture

Just as everywhere else in the world, wealth is directly linked to quality of life in Morocco. There also exists great distances between the rich and the poor of Morocco, commonly referred to as a “wealth gap.” In Morocco, the wealth gap is exacerbated by a mix of social, cultural, and legal factors. Socially, there exists a disconnect between rural and urbanized areas. Those in rural regions often lack access to education, healthcare, and other government services, further restricting opportunities for social mobility. Culturally, societal norms and gender roles can limit women’s access to job opportunities. In 2023, labor force participation among Moroccan women over the age of 15 was reported at 19.8%, compared to 68.3% of Moroccan men 15 or older (ILO, 2024). Whether this be from familial expectations to become a homemaker or lack of positions available, the fact remains that only 1 in 5 Moroccan women receive a paycheck, and therefore have financial independence. While strides hav

During one of our first factory tours in Morocco, the citrus processing facility, we were told over and over again that the plant mostly employed women on the floor because women are "more detail-oriented," and therefore produced a higher quality product. This trend continued throughout our trip, where floors of women in white coats carefully combed through every type of produce imaginable, from blueberries to dates to citrus varieties. This reflects common gender stereotypes that women are more precise in their work and men are better suited for big-picture roles. Stereotypes like these can be harmful because they are widespread, subconsciously activated, and directly impact the social mobility of women (Heilman, 2012). This could also be due to the relatively low training and education required for these roles, as while there have been some strides in the gender education gap in Morocco, challenges remain in rural areas throughout the kingdom (Kolovich & Ndoye, 2023).