Young Algerian Women Discuss Their Experiences and Negotiations with Patriarchy in Their Everyday Lives

The prevalence of patriarchy in Algeria continues to shape the experiences and daily lives of women, encompassing their societal roles, personal relationships and social interactions. This research explores how the hierarchical institutionalisation of male dominance on women in Algeria infiltrates the everyday lives of women in both the public and private spheres. It addresses women’s everyday lives concerning gender roles, gender inequality and labour division. I apply theories of patriarchy, symbolic interactionism and private/public spheres dichotomy to investigate their experiences and understandings of their everyday confrontations with patriarchy. I ask: how do young Algerian women perceive and negotiate ideas of patriarchy and gender roles in the context of their everyday lives and experiences? This research uses semi-structured, face-to-face interviews with 32 young Algerian women aged 18-25 from four different Algerian cities: Oran, Algiers, Annaba and Adrar. The research finding highlights how patriarchy manifests into two major themes in the Algerian society which are domesticity and honour culture. Young Algerian women experience patriarchy through impression management in the public and private domain. They take control on how other people perceive them. Domesticity is interconnected with respectability and honour. Also, Algerian mothers can be agents of patriarchy that ensure gender socialisation and perpetuation of patriarchy. The Algerian family and culture enforces male domination on young Algerian women through their continuous search for respectability and acceptance by assuming their assigned traditional gendered roles. However, these women are promoting change and dismantle of patriarchy through resistance, silence and bargaining with patriarchy. Young Algerian women experience patriarchy in their everyday lives through unequal division of house chores and the enforced honour performances, and they negotiate with patriarchal discrimination through active resistance and bargaining for a better future.