Abstract
This chapter focuses on the economic aspect of women’s empowerment in Morocco in the aftermath of the so-called Arab Spring. The chapter presents a critical review of the main existing state strategies for women’s economic empowerment and underlines their shortcomings, mainly their short-term perspectives. As an alternative, the chapter introduces Anaruz as a unique social enterprise that adopts an innovative approach that targets sustainability and self-independence, marking a shift from traditional approaches to women’s economic empowerment where the empowerment often ends when the project does. The chapter provides testimonies from real actors in the field who attest how Anaruz empowered them not only individually but also collectively to act as agents for change in their families and in their communities.
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Notes
- 1.
The expression “Arab Spring” is problematized by a large number of researchers for its exclusion of other groups present in the region, such as Amazigh, Copts, and so on. Some other terms have been proposed instead such as “MENA uprisings” and “Democratic Protests.” The authors of this chapter favor the expression “MENA uprisings” as it is neutral and more revealing.
- 2.
Social enterprise often starts with identifying a problem or noticing a need in the community. It is a business model that brings an innovative solution to a social or environmental issue. Its success is measured by positive changes to an issue in society together with profit generation to sustain the business. In this way, a social entrepreneur is an agent of change in society, a creator of innovations that alter situations and transform our world.
- 3.
Anaruz, also spelled Anarouz, is an Amazigh term which means “hope.” The choice of the term is very significant, for social enterprise is a means to give hope to poor, marginalized, rural Moroccan women and empower them economically so that they are able to improve their conditions and protect their rights. See www.anarouz.org.
- 4.
The acronym “Afus,” representing the five pillars Anaruz has adopted in its innovative approach, happens to be the Amazigh equivalent of “hand.” Our aim in choosing this word is to convey that Anaruz is working hand in hand with these marginalized rural women.
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Elattir, M., Allame, Y.K., Tihm, Y. (2016). Women’s Economic Empowerment in Morocco: The Case of Social Entrepreneurship. In: Sadiqi, F. (eds) Women’s Movements in Post-“Arab Spring” North Africa. Comparative Feminist Studies. Palgrave Macmillan, New York. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-50675-7_19
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-50675-7_19
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