He Gendered Division of Sustainable Work in Moroccan Households: Cultural Legacies and Contemporary Challenges

In traditional Moroccan culture, women are widely perceived as being responsible for all domestic tasks, while men’s involvement in such tasks is often associated with a loss of status or masculinity. This perception is reinforced by proverbs and oral expressions that highlight the strong social stigma attached to men participating in domestic labor. This paper explores how these cultural representations not only shape the division of household labor but also influence the allocation of sustainability-related tasks within Moroccan families.

As environmental concerns and the need for sustainable lifestyles grow, women often find themselves at the forefront of efforts to reduce energy consumption, manage waste, and adopt eco-friendly practices. However, these new responsibilities add to their existing burden of unpaid domestic work, exacerbating gender inequalities within households. Meanwhile, men remain largely disengaged from sustainability-related tasks, reflecting a continuity of cultural norms that position women as the primary caretakers of the domestic sphere.

This paper draws on empirical data and an analysis of Moroccan cultural expressions to explore the gendered dynamics of sustainable work within households. It examines the persistence of these cultural norms in a context where pressures to adopt sustainable practices are increasing and where the unequal distribution of this labor can have direct consequences on women’s well-being and quality of life.

By investigating the role that traditional representations play in shaping the division of sustainable labor, this study highlights the challenges Moroccan households face in responding to climate change. It also offers comparative perspectives by examining how these dynamics evolve in other sociocultural contexts and what lessons can be drawn to promote a more equitable distribution of sustainable work.