مجلة روافد للدراسات و الأبحاث العلمية في العلوم الاجتماعية والإنسانية
Volume 9, Numéro 2, Pages 780-791
2025-12-01
Gender Dynamics And Male Authority In Marriage Rituals Of Sidi Mâamar (ténès): An Anthropological Study
Authors : Zian Mohamed .
Abstract
The present study explores the interplay of gender dynamics and male authority within the marriage rituals of Sidi Mâamar (Ténès), Algeria, with particular attention to the instrumental role of women in protecting the dowry (sadaq) and its significant cultural symbolism. Using qualitative methodology, the study incorporates six months of ethnographic fieldwork, integrating participant observation and semi-structured interviews with local inhabitants to examine ritual practices, including dowry negotiations and ceremonial proceedings. Empirical findings demonstrate that these rituals reinforce patriarchal hegemony, positioning women as modest yet vital custodians of cultural heritage while sustaining social order and familial stability secured in notions of honor and prestige. Although their cultural significance, women’s activity remains constrained, reflecting deeply rooted power irregularities. The discussion maintains that these practices summarize broader socio-cultural paradigms, demanding further scholarly inquiry into the evolving gender roles within Algerian familial structures during recent social transformations. By synthesizing a framework that settles the constancy of traditional customs with the variability of emergent gender paradigms, this research explains the adaptive nature of rituals in response to contemporary shifts. It contributes to gender studies by illuminating women’s dual function as preservers and potential catalysts of change within patriarchal frameworks, promoting for a re-examination of cultural evolution toward greater equity in Sidi Mâamar and analogous contexts.
Keywords
Gender dynamics ; Male authority ; Marriage rituals ; Traditions ; Algeria
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