Diary of a Feminist: Mouna Rahiani’s call for sisterhood

Sisterhood: A word at the core of feminist movements, embodying the power, potential, and importance of women coming together for a common cause. In Morocco, where feminist activism still faces significant challenges and remains heavily stigmatized, sisterhood plays a quintessential part in the fight for gender equality. It is not merely a concept but a powerful force that binds women together, fostering unity and strength in the face of adversity.

This Diary of a Feminist traces the journey of Mouna Rahiani, a member of Kif Mama Kif Baba, a feminist organization at the forefront of advocating for women’s rights and gender justice in Morocco. Rahiani’s experience as a feminist activist is one that demonstrates the importance of solidarity between women and the transformative power that lies within a united sisterhood.

Rahiani’s perspective on feminism was shaped early on by personal experiences, witnessing firsthand the devastating effects of gender inequality, and grappling with the deep-rooted injustices that continue to plague Moroccan society. As a young girl, she quickly recognized the gendered roles imposed upon her. While her male cousins played video games and roamed freely, she and her female cousins were relegated to the kitchen, doing chores. This early realization ignited Rahiani’s feminist fire, one that would only grow stronger over time.

She recalls, “I think from a very young age, even from the age of five, I understood that we weren’t equal and that it was cooler to be a guy, it was smarter to be a guy. I'd have more privileges than being a little girl.”

Rahiani later pursued civil engineering, a male-dominated field where she faced constant scrutiny simply because she was a woman. She wanted to be out in the field with the construction workers, overseeing projects, but her appearance and actions were constantly judged.

“I was constantly criticized. ‘Yeah, but have you seen how you dress, your jeans are too tight.’ ‘Yeah, but your nails, aren’t you worried about your nails?’ I don’t think anyone says that to a man, even though I’ve had the exact same training as them,” she added.

For Rahiani, feminism is not about rejecting men but about fighting for a fair and just society. "As soon as you say feminist, people think you hate men, when that’s not true. I have no hatred for men. I have enormous hatred for criminals, for murderers, for manipulators, for people who violate our rights.”

A Call for Sisterhood

Sisterhood is not just a feel-good word. It is the very backbone of the feminist movement, binding women together in the fight against systemic oppression. “If we had more solidarity, if we were there for each other, honestly, there would be fewer problems,” she shares. “And it would be easier to advocate for our cause because sometimes, your first enemy is a woman.”

This tension within the feminist movement itself is something Rahiani grapples with. Women often turn against each other, perpetuating the same divisions that patriarchy has embedded in society. Her frustration stems from witnessing some women perpetuate harmful stereotypes, undermine others, or fail to recognize their own power.

It’s this very struggle that fuels Rahiani’s commitment to fighting for women’s rights. True sisterhood is an act of resistance that requires constant nurturing, challenging not just external oppressors but also internalized misogyny.

The Role of Social Media

In an increasingly digital world, social media has become a key platform for feminist advocacy. For Rahiani, it is both a tool for amplifying her voice and a space where the strength of sisterhood is tested and manifested. However, social media also exposes feminist activists to criticism, harassment, and threats.

“The difficulty for me is the language,” she explains. “I’ve tried posting in Arabic, in Darija, but I can’t reach the community. I think even Moroccan women who see this don’t feel represented in me.”

For her, fostering solidarity means finding ways to connect with diverse communities. Sisterhood cannot be a one-size-fits-all concept, it must evolve to meet the needs of every woman, especially those from marginalized communities.

Further exacerbating internalized misogyny  is the prevalence of Moroccan "traditional wife" accounts that glorify domesticity, painting an idealized picture of women cooking, cleaning, and even bathing their husbands. These accounts often present a vision of womanhood where a woman's world revolves entirely around her husband.

“I’ve seen these accounts, where women are shown as doing everything for their husbands, cooking, cleaning, even washing their husbands' feet or bathing them,” Rahiani remarks. It’s a narrative that limits a woman’s role to the domestic sphere, and it’s troubling to see how many women support these ideas.

Yoga as Empowerment

Amid the pressures of activism, Rahiani finds empowerment through yoga. As a yoga coach, she integrates her feminist values into her practice, focusing on helping women feel good in their bodies and minds while deconstructing the idea that yoga is only for a certain body type.

“I always add a little nod to sisterhood and feminism during my classes,” she explains. “Yoga isn’t just a physical practice, it’s about feeling empowered, about accepting all body types. All bodies are okay, and it’s important that women know they can practice yoga no matter their size or shape.”

Yoga becomes more than a physical practice for Rahiani; it’s a tool for empowerment, helping women deconstruct limiting ideas about beauty and fitness. Her goal is to create a space where women can truly feel connected to their bodies and challenge societal pressures that tell them they don’t fit the mold.

Ultimately, Rahiani’s story underscores the power of sisterhood in feminist activism. She is a testament to the strength that comes when women support one another. 

Through her activism, Mouna Rahiani reminds us that feminism is not a solitary pursuit, it’s a collective movement built on the strength of women lifting each other up. In a world that seeks to divide, it is through sisterhood that women can truly unite and transform society.