Dear Female - Women in Morocco

I hate the way the culture in my country perceives the girl, the woman, the sister, the daughter, the grandmother, the aunt, the mother, the widow, the divorced woman and the female in general.

It is a perspective that is mostly contradicted with what the culture, seems to promote. The female in Morocco mostly ends her life at the age of eighteen. She ends her life because the culture makes her believe that she is destined to get married as soon as she is no longer a child.

A female exposed to this culture, believes indirectly, that this is true, marriage and kitchen are her destiny.

If she does not get married, she must be sick or cursed.

The female has to spend half her life in the house of her family, then move to end the rest of her life in the house of her husband.

The only moment when she enjoys her life is between these two houses, the house of the wedding. Where she is forced, again by her traditions, to spend money recklessly on food, clothes and jewellery.

She has only three days to celebrate her next prison days. However, as a bride, she is only allowed to follow the instructions of the wedding manager and clothes designer.

She is not even allowed to dance at her wedding’s night.

Most families in Morocco perceive the female as a dignity that must be preserved and protected until they delivered to somebody else, her dignity lies in her virginity.

If she loses her virginity outside the marriage context, she will be considered a prostitute.

But, if a man loses his virginity outside the marriage context, he always stays a man.

The male in Morocco can have sex with many different females, and in the end, he wishes to marry only one female, and she must be honoured with her virginity.

And, many females wait for the day when they get engaged, to tell everyone that they find their prince.

But, one day, your grandchildren might ask you: Grandma, how did you spend your life?

So, what would like to say?

Your answer will be what you will do for yourself from now on.

Dear female,

You are more than just a girl, or a woman or another sex gender, you are a human being, born with an independent body and mind. Do not let anything put you in a frame box. No culture must possess you.

Your life, your present and your future lie between your hands.

Do not make marriage your destiny, because your life is much more important than your marriage.

Other than just marrying someone, you can study! You can work! You can be who you truly want to be.

You can be a mother, but also a doctor, a lawyer, a politician, an actor, a musician, a sports athlete and a president, you never know

Instead of being a prisoner in different houses all your life, spend your life exploring different corners and parts of the world.

You can be anything the man can be. If no one believes you, you are the only person who should believe in yourself.

Look at your power that overcomes the pain of pregnancy, the pain of a child born, and monthly periods, this power can change the world. And, it could never be owned by men, so feel it! Embrace it! And use it!

Use it to fight for your battles, and change your life and your destiny, as no one else will do for you.

Be the master of your dreams, and work hard to achieve them.

You can be religious or not, you can cover your hair or not, but just make sure no one forces you to become someone you do not want to be.

You have to be free in your words, in your thoughts, and in your choices.

Do not say Yes, when you want to say No, and do not say No when you want to say Yes.

Do not get deceived by the looks and appearances that companies make a business out of.

Love yourself as you are, from the inside and outside.

Find your inner peace, and accept who you are with everything you were born with.

Believe in yourself as a strong, independent, wise and intelligent female.

Wake up every morning with a mission, with a purpose and with a strong will.

A strong will to be part of this world, besides the man, not behind him.

Explore other people, explore other cultures, explore the other world, because there you will explore yourself.

Dear female, Good Luck!

Written by Abderrahman Assorhani

02-02-2019

Larache, Morocco