Family

Both Spain and Morocco are considered family-centric countries—or those where individuals keep family in focus throughout all aspects of life. However, they are significant differences between Spanish and Moroccan familial groups. For example, in Spanish families, young adults often leave the parental home only when they’re ready to enter marriage. In Moroccan families, adult children practice intergenerational co-residence living with their spouse, child(ren), and parent(s).

For Moroccans, loyalty to one’s family is crucial. But as these refugees transition their lives away from their home countries, they’re introduced to and challenged by western ideals. Moroccans in Spain struggle to balance newfound western individualism and self-expression with the idea that individuals are indispensable pieces of the full puzzle of a family unit.