A Men's Group at the Muslim Workshop in Morocco
One of my highlights as a Lebanese Christian ally at the Muslim workshop in Morocco last September was leading a men’s topic group. There were seven of us— from Morocco, Algeria, the Gambia, and the United States. Most of the men were Arab and North African Muslims.
After introductions and a mini-session, we all answered two questions: What is the general situation for men in your country? What is it like for you as a man in your country? My impression is that one of the hardest things for men in developing countries oppressed by imperialism is the economic burden they feel and the over-responsibility for their families. Men from poor and working-class backgrounds, in particular, are under a lot of pressure to help their families. A number of the men in the group were either university students or in middle-class occupations. Finding a job in their field after graduation is a great challenge. And those who do find work in their areas of study often have hard working conditions and little time for themselves.
After another mini-session and a brief talk about the good human nature of men, we went around the group and discharged about men we had known or heard of who were clearly good. Then I talked about the role that men’s oppression plays in the oppressive society and about the institutions of men’s oppression. The group was interested and listened closely.
After that we looked at the need to build an alliance between women and men to end sexism, male domination, and men’s oppression. The men were clearly in support of that. A key piece of information was that men are oppressed by society, not by women or young people. (Men may at times be hurt by women or young people, but this is different from the systematic male domination and sexism that exist in society.)
I woke up in the early hours of the next morning filled with thoughts about the new perspectives I was having at the workshop. Soon I heard the call to prayer, calling all Muslims to put their minds to living a good day and a good life. I felt a profound sense of understanding and belonging, and cried easily.
Los Angeles, California, USA
(Present Time 192, July 2018)