The uses of mobile phones and Gifts in marriage in rural Moroccan communities in light of electric energy consumption: Interactive analysis

¹ ESF, Mohamed v university, Morocco
² SRI, Mohamed v university, Morocco

Abstract

In an unprecedented global environment marked by energy dependence. Access to electricity in rural Moroccan areas revolutionizing everyday life and ways of social interaction. So that, the uses of mobile phone become normal and more important. This study aims to explore, in light of the importance of access to electricity and mobile phone’s uses, the role of the Gift in the consolidation of the social relationships on marriage occasions in Moroccan rural communities; by prioritizing the families’ point of view. Based on comprehensive biographical interview; it has been performed during 3 months (June; July and August 2022; because it’s the wedding period after the crops-gathering seasons); with 15 families in rural area in south East of Morocco. The verbatim was content analyzed. It allowed us to detect two levels: the first one is based on descriptive logic in relation to families view; indicating the importance of marriage in village knowledge’s as well as the role of electric energy and mobile phone in their daily lives. While the second is building on an interactionism standpoint and shedding light on redefinition of social relationships. Results show; on one hand, the importance of electric energy, and on the other hand; marriage as practice governed by social norms that recreate cohesion between families through ritual such as gifts witch have seen a big retreat due to the mobile phone uses.