Browsing by Subject "Morocco"

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Behaviors and perceptions before and during Ramadan- Tremdina: The Feeling of Ramadan
(2018-05-18) Pankey, Kia, R
Islam is the fasted growing religion in the world33. Each year Muslims celebrate Ramadan, a month-long holiday, to strengthen their faith by abstaining from food, alcohol, sexual activity, cursing, and smoking31,33. During this time, Muslims cease these habitual behaviors rapidly at the start of the holiday. What happens to individuals stress levels and wellbeing when these habitual behaviors stop? The purpose of the study was to analyze the impact of the month of Ramadan on Moroccan individuals in relation to stress. The study includes the perspectives of 54 Moroccans conducted through Google Form surveys in French and English and two personal interviews. The majority of individuals had a sudden measurable change in habitual behavior during Ramadan. However, the majority of individuals did not feel stressed during the month of Ramadan and experienced an array of positive emotions. The novelty of Ramadan and faithfulness to Islam could overshadow an individual’s increase in stress levels during Ramadan due to sudden changes in habitual behavior.
A Comparison of Mental Health in the United States and Morocco: A Literature Review and Summary of Responses by Students
(2021-05) Adamek, Andrew J
This review article is based on a partnership between the University of Minnesota and the Hassan II University Hospital Center in a virtual internship. I have compiled my experiences, the experiences of a surgeon in Morocco, studies on mental health in both countries, and two questionnaires that were completed by students in both countries into a report of the differences and similarities in mental health in the two countries and recommendations for improvement for each. We have found that, there is a similar rate of burnout of physicians in the two countries, around 40%, the rate of mental health conditions is higher in Morocco, at 48.9%, than the United States, at 20.6%, and that there are more barriers to accessing mental health care in Morocco for many complex reasons, for example less funding for psychological units and a culture of mental health stigmatization. Based on these results, we recommend that for Morocco, it is essential to create a strong and national system to combat the stigma of mental health conditions and increase access to mental health resources, which may lead to more psychological units for students in schools and more psychologists in hospitals on-site for psychological assessments on demand that will be needed when the stigma around mental health is reduced. For the United States, we recommend that even more resources are necessary for mental health, considering the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and, when safe, for students to return to in-person classes, as students indicate many difficulties with online learning during COVID-19.
Current Situation of Moroccan Women and Opportunities Amal Provides
(2017) Gates, Georgia R
Women’s issues in the west have been in the news for many years now and are a very popular social issue. In Morocco, this is not the case. In order to understand women’s empowerment there, one must first adopt the cultural context. In order to do this I decided to volunteer at Amal Women’s Training Center and Moroccan Restaurant. I spent eight weeks fully immersed in Moroccan culture and six of those weeks volunteering alongside the service staff and trainees at the center. I observed operations of the center and interviewed staff on how things are done and what they see as the status that women occupy in society and its developments over the years. I found that Amal is successful at training disadvantaged women for positions within the workforce which gives them the ability to be financially independent. Overall, I observed that women are slowly gaining more opportunities in the public sphere and access to more legal rights. I also learned that there is a distinct divide between individuals in service positions and those in administrative positions. Amal is a successful organization at empowering women with the skills to be financially independent but could implement other programs and ideas to empower women fully.
Decentralizing school governance: a policy analysis of partnership between parents and public Middle Schools in Morocco.
(2012-05) Elmeski, Mohammed
The purpose of the current study is to investigate why parent-school partnerships have failed after ten years of reform implementation. Grounded in Kingdon's multiple streams model for policy formulation (Kingdon, 1995), the hypothesis of this study is that parents and teachers' apathetic attitudes towards partnership may reflect their positions on policy priorities they did not participate in defining. Kingdon's model highlighted issues of political consensus between parents and teachers around school reform and how they accounted for weak parent-school partnerships. Mohr and Spekman (1994) framework for successful partners, and Bolman and Deal (2003) four-framework model of human organizations highlighted the behavioral and organizational barriers to partnerships in Morocco's public middle schools. The quantitative phase of the study consisted of a survey that measured (1) the extent to which parents and teachers demonstrated consensus on middle school problems and their corresponding solutions; and (2) the degree to which consensus accounted for partnerships. In the qualitative phase, interviews were conducted to highlight structural, cultural, human resource, and political impediments to parent-school partnership. Findings suggest that parents' and teachers' agreements on general reform principles did not trickle down to working partnerships at the school level. Further analysis highlighted issues of trust, commitment, coordination, communication quality, and conflict resolution strategies characterizing parents' and teachers' perceptions of each other. Qualitative findings unearthed structural, cultural, human resources, and political barriers to parent-school partnership. Major structural impediments included lack of institutional funding, vague regulatory framework, deficient accountability, excessive centralization, and high opportunity cost of parents' participation. Cultural expectations pigeonholed parents in the roles of disciplinarians, laborers, and school slush funds. Lack of strategies for human resources was manifested in the absence of teachers from partnership trainings. Politically, the primacy of self-interest typified a fragmented political reality characterized by teachers and parent representatives who were too divided to have any significant impact on decision making. This study demonstrated that desultory partnerships were nested in structural, cultural, human resources, and political weaknesses. Unless these underlying weaknesses are addressed, continuing to blame parents and teachers for a problem they are not empowered to solve does little to build stronger parent-school partnerships in Morocco's public schools.
An Ethnographic Analysis of the Restrictions of Effective Mental Health Treatments in Moroccan Society: Where Do We Go From Here?
(2017) Trenberth, Tahnee
With its simultaneously omnipresent traditional and modern culture, Morocco possesses a unique binary demeanor. This is especially true when discussing the attitudes toward and perceptions of mental illnesses and those who suffer from them. It is important to understand the various components that influence perceptions, help-seeking behaviors, and overall attitudes toward perceived mental illness within Moroccan culture (Al-Krenawi, et al., 2009). Because there are a variety of ways in which patients conceptualize and articulate mental illnesses across cultures, it is necessary to consider factors such as cultural beliefs, societal legislative influences, local treatment availabilities, family involvement, awareness, stigmatization, and historical context to fully understand the challenges that arise concerning this complex issue. This is principally so in countries such as Morocco, where the conflicting ideals of traditional and Westernized psychiatric treatments often collide. The implementation of modern, westernized mental health treatments into a population that is already deeply embedded in traditional and religious healing methods has created an internal conflict surrounding the search for balance between the two practices (Stein, 2000). This can be problematic when attempting to treat cases, as practitioners’ misconceptions can lead to access barriers, misdiagnosis, or inappropriate treatment (Al-Krenawi, et al., 2009).
Exploitation Effects on Propagation of Argania Spinosa in Morocco
(2017) Arens, Sydney
Argania spinosa, the argan tree, is endemic to Morocco and provides many ecosystem services for the Moroccan people, as well as people around the world; these include oil production for domestic use or sale, shade for growing crops, grazing areas for livestock, and providing soil stability that helps prevent desertification and climate change. High demand for argan oil has created a market for seeds, thereby providing income for many local people. As demand for the oil rises, the argan forests have become exploited. Argan trees cannot effectively reproduce with high levels of farming, seed harvest, and grazing. Without proper management and regulation of forests, they could be lost and replaced by deserts. This study’s aim is to evaluate how different kinds of exploitation affect natural reproduction in Argania spinosa . Four different study sites were chosen to represent varying levels of exploitation by comparing the effects of farming, grazing, and humans on argan reproduction. Forest plots were sampled in each region to identify young sapling densities compared to adult tree densities, and seed dispersal ranges were compared to identify the effects of exploitation on propagation. Although seed collection pressures have rapidly increased in the past decades, the results of the study suggest that agricultural pressures from farming within argan forests may decrease argan tree propagation.
Germination of Argania spinosa: Overcoming genetic and physical barriers of Morocco's infamous seed
(2018) Sauter, Rebecca
Argania spinosa (argan tree) is one of the oldest species of trees on the planet today, with individual trees living hundreds of years. Its vital role in providing food for animals, slowing desertification and providing precious cosmetic oil, make studying the tree of vital importance for the Moroccan economy and environment. The argan tree is secluded to growing in the southwest region of Morocco at the edge of the Sahara Desert. However, due to the rapid increase in the price of the oil its seeds produce and the expanding desert, this fragile and ancient tree’s future is being threatened. Preservation efforts are being made, but first research is needed to know what threats the tree is facing and to what extent. The beginning of the tree’s life if a very good place to start. We know that germination is being challenged, but by what factors? This investigation took to a germination experiment testing the best conditions of argan seeds by comparing size, temperature and specific trees. No significant results were found from these comparisons. Seeds were infected by fungus and insects. Oil composition was compared between trees and found significant color differences, but not significant differences in fatty acid content. Also a cross-cultural comparison was realized for the differences in how Americans and Moroccans conduct research. Sauter
Moral Foundation Theory: Moral Differences between Moroccan and American Young Adults
(2024) Mohamed, Mariama
This cross-cultural comparative study investigated the moral differences between Moroccan and American college students. Both groups completed an online survey that included the moral foundations theory questionnaire (MFQ) regarding the following foundations of care/harm, fairness/reciprocity, in-group/loyalty, authority/respect, purity/sanctity, and liberty/oppression, as well as a demographic questionnaire that focused on age, nationality, gender, religion, political views, and socioeconomic status (Graham, 2011). Results found significant differences in the care/harm, fairness/reciprocity, and liberty/oppression moral foundations. Specifically, the American college students at the University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD) scored higher on the following moral foundations than the Moroccan students. The results suggest that the desire to care for others and their sufferings was of greater moral concern for UMD students as compared to Moroccan students. These results also suggest that American students prioritize principles of fairness, justice, and individual rights as compared to Moroccan students. In addition, we sought to explore the influence of socioeconomic status (SES) on morality as socioeconomic status (SES) has been consistently found to predict differences in morality. When analyzing the SES effects on morality, we discovered that the high SES participants scored higher on care/harm and fairness-reciprocity foundations as compared to the lowest SES participants.
The Perceived Value of English in Moroccan Society Across Generational Lines
(2024-04-18) Broten, Johanna C
The importance of English cannot be ignored. Increasingly, non-native speakers need to communicate and interpret information in the English language worldwide. Morocco is no exception. Because of the growing importance of international tourism in Morocco and the rise of its status on the global stage, this research seeks to better understand the instrumentality and desirability of the English language in the eyes of Moroccans. The current understanding of the value of English in Morocco exists primarily from the perspective of students, providing an important but incomplete view of the importance of English in Moroccan society. To gain a fuller understanding of its perceived value, this research examines the attitudes and opinions of people across generational lines. This research was guided by the question “What is the perceived value of English in Moroccan society across generational lines?” We answered this question through a survey that gathered information on demographics, English language background, English use (e.g. what percent of your daily conversations are in English?), and English attitudes (e.g. how important do you think English will be in your future?). After comparing responses across generational lines to identify any important differences, we found a strong correlation between attitudes towards English and actual use of the language suggesting that English is highly valued in Morocco, especially among the younger generation.
Personal Perspectives on Alzheimer’s Disease in Morocco
(2017) Krueger, Allison
The number of people affected with dementia worldwide is expected to increase dramatically in the coming decades. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia, which is characterized by progressive memory loss and increasing behavioral changes throughout the course of the fatal disease. This growing healthcare concern affects not only those with the disease, but caregivers and family members as well. Understanding the unique challenges of affected families across cultures can be useful in providing culturally competent healthcare and providing support resources for patients and their families. This study investigated the major issues faced by families affected by Alzheimer’s disease in Morocco and the support resources available through a site visit, in-country library research, and semi-structured interviews to gain an in-depth understanding of the effects of the disease from multiple perspectives. Results indicate that there are at least four aging centers in Morocco, either in construction or already functioning, to provide caregiver support and education on Alzheimer's disease. Two out of three of the interview participants believe that Alzheimer's disease is not a major health priority on a national scale compared to other acute diseases.
Presence of Uncertainty in Friendships: A study on Morocco and the United States
(2017) Grev, Victoria
This study seeks to understand how culture influences people’s level of uncertainty and information seeking strategies in interpersonal relationships. The general premise is cultures experience different levels of uncertainty and, therefore, the uncertainty reduction theory can be observed in different ways. Hypotheses were formed regarding how aspects of culture may change the level of uncertainty and information seeking present in Morocco and the United States. A study was conducted through the distribution of a survey asking questions about friendships between Moroccan students (N=25), and friendships between American students (N=46). It was found that American students have more certainty, and use the interactive information seeking strategy more, than Moroccan students. Furthermore, certainty within friendship leads to more direct and interactive information seeking strategies. Relationship length was positively associated with more certainty in friendships, as was relationship closeness. The authors conclude the study by discussing how these findings influence the future research of culture and the uncertainty reduction theory.
The Public Perceptions of Mental Illness in Moroccan Culture
(2023-04-30) Mitchell, Madeline S
Individuals with mental illnesses are commonly exposed to a variety of stigmas. These stigmas differ across cultural and individual levels (Al-Krenawi et al., 2008; Corrigan & O’Shaughnessy, 2007; Gesser-Edelsburg & Shbat, 2016; Kadri et al., 2004; Markowitz, 1998; Stein, 2000; Zarrouq et al., 2021; Zolezzi et al., 2018). Specifically, stigma exists as a significant obstacle to the abilities of people with mental illness to receive adequate care and integrate into the public without worrying about discrimination (Gesser-Edelsburg & Shbat, 2016; Slate et al., 2013). This research examined the most prevalent factors that impact the Moroccan public’s attitudes and perceptions about individuals with mental illnesses, according to past research. It was found that men, specifically Muslim men, and participants ages 25 years old and above had significantly more stigmatic, particularly authoritarian, perceptions about people with mental illness. Conversely, women were significantly more benevolent than men. Significant findings also suggested that women and participants 24 years and younger were more likely to be interested in Westernized mental health services.
Social Entrepreneurship: Investigating the Experiences of Moroccan Artisans in Cooperatives
(2022-12-04) Strong, Joshua
This paper takes a qualitative approach to observe how social entrepreneurship interacts with the people it is purposed to benefit using the Moroccan artisan sector as a case study. Much of the literature surrounding the highly contested topic of social entrepreneurship is concerned with definitions and socio-economic implications. This study takes a specific interest in the people at the root of social entrepreneurship as well as the programs and cooperatives it employs. Interpretative phenomenological analysis (Smith & Osborn, 2015) of interviews involving four Moroccan artisans from two separate cooperatives is used to observe the artisan experience within a social entrepreneurial context. The results show that the experiences of the artisans are heavily influenced by the characterization of the cooperative in which they operate. The lived experiences of the artisans indicate that cooperatives acting as wage-labor programs are only social entrepreneurial on the surface, effectively retaining characteristics of exploitative economic apparatuses. The findings support the argument that purely entrepreneurial cooperatives, and the flat structure within them, are the preferred framework to employ social entrepreneurship programs. In the end, through communication of their lived experiences, artisans operating within the more entrepreneurial cooperative not only displayed a better understanding of themselves as individuals, but also the broader socio-economic landscape in which they exist. Understanding this will help inform future initiatives and social enterprise that are concerned with producing sustainable benefits to society and the economy.
Teach Me Too: The Educational Realities of Children with Disabilities in Morocco
(2023-05) Swadek, Ghada
The goal of this study was to investigate the effects (as articulated by Stephen Ball) of global and national inclusive education policies on the education of children with disabilities. The study focused on global and national policy influences and stakeholder engagements (perceptions, understanding, interpretations, and translations) of these policies to investigate the primary effects related to changes of practice or structure within schools and school systems, and secondary effects, related to social justice, social access, and opportunity. The theoretical orientation is based in critical sociocultural policy analysis, framed by a consciousness of ‘relevance’ of global North theory, conceptual frameworks, and methodology within global South contexts and attunement to emergent alternative discourses, as articulated by S. F. Alatas (2001a). Ball’s (1993) policy cycle conceptualization is used in the analysis process. Ball’s policy cycle is coupled with Bartlett and Vavrus’s (2017) comparative case study (CCS) approach, which allow for multi-sited and multi-scalar, ethnographically informed research. The findings of this study are framed through an emically informed conceptualization of harira, the traditional Moroccan soup, to illustrate not only the messiness of policies, but adding the complexity and layers found within the Moroccan context. The harira conceptualization shows that the Moroccan inclusive education policy scape is composed of the co-existence of convergences and divergences in relation to global and national policies and stakeholder engagements with these policies, in addition to transversal (historical legacies), temporal (aspects of time, space, and geographies), and contemporary (current impact on the education of children with disabilities) components. The findings demonstrate the contextual realities at the global and local nexus of inclusive education policies and engagements within a MENA context. Implications highlight a reconceptualization of Ball’s policy cycle within a postcolonial, global South contexts, and the productiveness of attunement to relevance and alternative discourses to the critical sociocultural orientation of policy analysis. A further implication for inclusive education policy specifically is the importance of this attunement to alternative discourses in the global South, which reveal postcolonial and faith or value-based aspects of inclusive education.
Teacher Stress on a Sample of Moroccan Educators
(2018) Wahl, Leah
Life is stressful, and it is experienced through many daily realms: families, friendships, school, and work. Due to the commonality of stress as a theme, many professionals have studied it. Specifically, certain researchers have focused their attention on stress in the education profession. These studies indicate that students, work resources, and school organizations seem to be major contributors within teacher stress. This project looks at the universalities of stress for educators. To do so, this paper looks at a particular population of eight teachers in Morocco via a qualitative survey addressing the following questions: “To what extent do Moroccan educators feel overwhelmed with stress? What makes Moroccan educators stressed?”, “To what extent do Moroccan teachers leave their profession because of teacher stress? What effect does stress have on Moroccan teachers?”, and “To what extent do Moroccan’s utilize coping mechanisms to handle teacher stress? What makes Moroccan educators stressed?”. The respondents indicated that they are stressed through their education profession, to the point that some are considering leaving their career. The participants suggest that the factors that cause them stress are the size of the school, the lack of administration, the style of the school, the location of the school, the students, and the parents. In order to manage their stress, the respondents ranked their coping strategies. The implications of this study invite conversations about the potential of universality of stress, the potential experiences of stress, and possibilities for managing professional stress in education.

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