ABSTRACT
Morocco’s drought periods have increased over the last couple of decades. In the public and political national discourse, such changes in water availability are framed as a natural phenomenon. In this discourse, the local experiences of rural populations are neglected. In this chapter, we look beyond this natural façade and illustrate how the current water scarcity situation in the Draa Valley in Southeast Morocco is not only a result of climate change but also results from political choices and market forces. Although women form the majority of the rural population in the oases and are essential for the maintenance of these spaces, their activities and experiences tend to be overlooked in research and policy documents. We therefore specifically focus on women in the oases in the Draa Valley and illustrate what these water alterations mean for gendered activities, identities, and livelihoods. Women used to play an essential role in oasis agriculture. Despite its hardship, their work allowed them to keep busy, fulfill themselves, and create and maintain social relationships. It also enabled them to find spots of relative freedom: the fields where they used to meet other women, exchange among each other, laugh, gossip, and have fun. However, farming has become more difficult due to less water availability and diminishing quality. In this newly emerging environmental context, some women are increasingly confined to the private feminine domain, while others take up new opportunities to make a living and give sense to their daily lives. In doing so, they renegotiate feminine rural identities and shape the future becoming of the oasis.
