Spatial Belonging and the Reproduction of Health Inequalities: Rural Women in Northwest Morocco's

Abstract

This paper investigates how the interplay of gender and spatial affiliation in the studied context exacerbates various forms of inequality, particularly health inequality, which is the focus of this research. It Examines how belonging to a specific geographical area (in this case, a rural mountainous region) contributes to the production and reproduction of health disparities among rural women, especially concerning healthcare access and provision. The study also considers how a particular geographic and functional space (village/city) can become a mechanism for perpetuating socio-Spatial disparities in accessing public health services.

Grounded in a sociological epistemological framework, this contribution employs qualitative research methodologies and field tools. Theoretically, it draws upon sociological literature concerning the concepts of space and inequality, primarily focusing on health inequality and the notion of reproduction. This research thus aims to critically examine health disparities among rural women and to identify both the overt and subtle expressions of social actors regarding their health conditions.