Gender, self-employment, and self-esteem: The impact of women’s cooperatives in a rural Moroccan community

In Africa, and more specifically in Morocco, the participation of rural women in socio-economic life is not only a matter of human rights but also a potential social asset, thanks to the development of their skills and talents. Cooperatives can support women economically and socially, reduce gender inequalities, and promote local development. This article examines the effects of women’s cooperatives on the self-employment of rural women and on gender inequalities through the lived experiences of women involved in Moroccan women’s cooperatives who responded to our survey. Based on the real-life stories of women from rural areas, the study reveals that cooperatives enable women to create their own jobs, thereby strengthening their economic and social independence and their ability to provide for themselves and their families. Although cooperatives do not have a direct and immediate effect on gender inequalities, they do contribute to reducing them to a certain extent. These inequalities remain influenced by cultural legacies and traditional norms in rural areas, which are difficult to change even after women have gained a degree of financial and social independence.