The Social and Political Lives of Women in an Egalitarian Matricultural Society: The Case of Western Sahara.

This article examines gender egalitarianism in Sahrawi society, a Muslim matricultural community in Western Sahara where women experience significant autonomy, low rates of domestic violence, and active participation in political and economic life. Drawing on interviews and focus groups in Dakhla and El Aaiún, the study highlights how Sahrawi cultural norms—rooted in matricultural traditions and strong social sanctions against violence—support women’s agency within a context of external political occupation and limited national self-determination. Unlike liberal gender equality frameworks dominant in international discourse, Sahrawi egalitarianism coexists with nonliberal notions emphasizing complementarity and honor, enabling women to engage freely in public life while maintaining valued family roles. The article also discusses the impact of gender quotas introduced in 2011, which have facilitated women’s political representation, and underscores the importance of male support and cultural values in sustaining women’s social, economic, and political participation.