Abstract

Mohammed Derdar*

This article deals with the issue of women’s leadership in Morocco. It particularly sheds light on a significant example of women’s leadership during Covid-19 pandemic. The choice of the period is not random, but it is based upon the assumption that exploring gender roles during times of crisis provides insights into the extent to which women could play a vital role in sustaining peace and security, and hence contributing to society’s advancement at different levels. The present study turns the lens on the leadership of a Moroccan Qaida (municipal leader or commander) in Safi. Methodologically, the study opted for data collected from Facebook and YouTube users commenting on videos about Qaida Huria during Covid-19. The videos were all about the activities Qaida Huria performed to help maintain the guidelines regarding the regularities of the lockdown in the city of Safi. The findings have both theoretical and practical implications. It has been found that most respondents commenting on Qaida Huria’s work have a positive attitude towards this woman leader. This positive perception is therefore interpreted as a call for paving the way to help Moroccan women hold more higher positions, especially in the field of authority and governance.