Paid work for constantine women: an access gate to public space

• Author: S. Merabet/L. Rioux
• Position: University of Constantine 2, Algeria/University Paris Ouest Nanterre La Défense
• Pages: 31-42

Bulletin of the Transilvania University of Braşov

Series VII: Social Sciences • Law • Vol. 8 (57) No. 2 - 2015

PAID WORK FOR CONSTANTINE

WOMEN: AN ACCESS GATE TO

PUBLIC SPACE

S. MERABET1 L. RIOUX

2

Abstract: In Algeria, paid work was once a manly business all that

happened outside the house being reserved to men. The independence of the

country has triggered profound socio-economic changes, which contributed

to the insertion of women on the labour market. However, the attitude of the

government towards the defence of women’s rights remained reserved,

considering the weight of conservative and fundamentalist trends which

reinforce the honour code in force and maintain the women in a minority

status. Paid work has triggered a change in the Man/Woman and

Inside/Outside report, although the outside behaviour of women is rapidly

readjusted by man when it may violate the honour code. Today, in a modern

Algeria, nothing justifies the minority status of women.

Key words: Paid work-Women-Men-Interior (Inside)-Exterior (Outside)-

Constantine.

1 University of Constantine 2, Algeria, sam.mer25@yahoo.fr;

2 University Paris Ouest Nanterre La Défense, lrioux@u-paris10.fr

1. Introduction

In most countries, the individual or group

relations were governed by honour codes

which often remained valid across centuries.

For example the duel in Great-Britain and in

France, the custom of bandaging the feet of

girls belonging to the higher classes in

China, the murders of honour in Pakistan,

are all practices which were encouraged by

specific honour codes [3] .

However, particularly in the

Mediterranean societies, honour remains a

central value, being at the same time

social, sexual, economic and political. It

conditions the social behaviours which are

defined reported to the sex and the social

status of the individual inside a group.

Thus, the honour of man is defined by

protecting his family and is based on

courage, honesty and loyalty, all symbols

of virility, whereas the honour of woman is

of sexual order only. Because she goes

along the line, any form of misconduct

reflects on the family and on future

generations. In other words, the woman is

the warrant of purity inside the family,

while the man is the warrant of its

reputation.

In Algeria, ever since the Islamic

conquests, the honour code is still very

visible, shifting the Muslim religion in its

favour. It is common knowledge that the

Muslim religion interferes with the socio-

cultural and institutional process of the

country and directs the thinking and acting