Sexual Debut in Rabat: New “Arrangements” between the Sexes

Abstract

Sexual debut is an essential aspect of the socialization process (Balandier, 1984;Courtois, 1998). It is a major component of social control, and the manner in which it occurs provides information about how each society constructs the social and gendered identities of its members, and reveals the different rules of behaviour imposed upon girls and boys (Bozon, 2008).Recent representative surveys indicate that in most societies, first sexual intercourse is occurring at an earlier age today, and is more dissociated from union formation (a more recent development for girls) than in previous cohorts (Bozon, 2002; Wellings et al., 2006). In some parts of the world, however, it is still hard to assess the extent of the phenomenon. In Arab countries in particular, it is regarded as unacceptable or even "immoral" even to ask men and women at what age they first had intercourse. Consequently, in the Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) and other studies conducted in these countries, only married women are asked about their sexual lives (Bozon, 2003), and there are no official figures for non-marital sexuality. (2) However, a number of recent quantitative and qualitative research projects (Bajos et al.

Globalization, the Internet and Guilty Pleasures in Morocco

“…Bakass & Ferrand [37] found that the majority of the men and women in their sample felt that women virginity would guarantee her future prospect of marriage. This belief seems to be largely common in Morocco.…”

“…Global cultural homogenisation is far from being materialised at least so far as interaction between opposite sexes are concerned. Bakass & Ferrand [37] p.37 argue "The social and religious order in Morocco is still based on such values as the honour and good name of the family wherein premarital female sexuality is proscribed and an intact hymen is irrefutable evidence of a successful family upbringing". This is evident from the following extracts;…”

Population Change in Europe, the Middle-East and North Africa

“…nuptiality change also creates tensions within families, especially because young people in the Arab world still prefer to marry (young), but can do so only at more advanced ages (Bakass and Ferrand 2013). Since marriage is postponed, young men and women keep on living, for an extended period of time, with their parents and remain under their authority.…”

Evidently Married: Changing Ambiguities in Creating Family Ties in Morocco

“…In Ahmed and Ishraq's case, his mother worried her son might be taken to jail. At the time, though, the since abrogated article of the penal code allowing a man to avoid prosecution by marrying the woman he had sexual relations with still applied (Bakass, Ferrand, andDepledge 2013, 46, Kreutzberger 2008, Fioole HAWWA (2020) 34-54 39). Unlike Rabia's boyfriend, Ahmed did want to marry his girlfriend, and they were already living together as spouses.…”