Algerian Women Work Twice as Hard During Ramadan

Between work, shopping for food and hours spent in the kitchen, there is very little time left for Algerian women to relax during Ramadan. Whatever their professional or social status, they cannot escape the obligation of producing a table full of different dishes every night for iftar.

And men usually do not help.

"I can understand that in old times, women were keen to be cooking all day long," said Samira, a bank clerk. "They didn't go to work, and men were expected to do the shopping. All the wife had to do was to spend her day concocting these little dishes. But the situation today is quite different."

Samira has to work six and a half hours every day starting at 9 o'clock. She is against traditions that force women to do all the work in the house, she said.

"These days, women must look after what happens inside and outside the home. They work like the men do, they must go shopping, take the children to school, and on top of that provide a well-stocked table in the evening. It's just too much."

Traditions dictate that the iftar menu include, in addition to soup, a dish of white or red meat, some small entrées, and salads plus desserts.

This menu requires several hours of preparation and considerable effort, said Hind, a housewife with a daughter.

"My day begins early in the morning," said Hind. "I look after my little girl and do the housework. At midday, it's time to go shopping. I have to organise myself; there are always a few things I need to get for the meal. With so many people in the stores, it takes at least an hour to get the shopping done. Getting home at around 2 p.m., then I start cooking."

During Ramadan, Hind spends much of her time in the kitchen. But she is not unhappy.

"I rarely get out of the kitchen before six. I'm exhausted, but I have no choice; my husband likes to eat well, and I'm quite proud of my meals. I almost forget the work that's gone into them."

But Samira is not as content. Once the chores of Ramadan are brought up for discussion, the principle of equality between men and women becomes the question.

"I'm stressed for the whole of Ramadan. I organise my day as much as I can, but I think it's time that the principle of sex equality was really taken seriously," she said. "Is it fair for women to wear themselves into the ground while the men are sitting in front of the TV set?"

Others disagree.

"Women who have chosen to work should be expected to observe customs," said Malika, in her sixties and loving traditions the way they are. "They shouldn't abandon the traditions we've been trying to uphold for years."

Mohamed, a young newlywed IT worker, agreed with Malika.

"You have to find the happy medium between the way they lived in the old days and the way we live today," Mohamed said, "but I don't think we should change our customs. I'm all in favour of equality between men and women, but I can't see myself cooking instead of my wife," he said.

With such social pressure, by the end of the month, women are exhausted. But it doesn't stop there; they have to work hard a few more days to prepare desserts and meals for Eid.