Meet Marrakesh's Badass Women Bikers [PHOTOS]
Morocco has "a mix of traditional and modern culture," Hajjaj told Business Insider.
![Meet Marrakesh's Badass Women Bikers [PHOTOS]](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fstaticbiassets.in%2Fthumb%2Fmsid-32681933%2Cwidth-700%2Cheight-525%2Cimgsize-7515270%2Fmorocco-has-a-mix-of-traditional-and-modern-culture-hajjaj-told-business-insider-.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
This translates into women who lead independent careers, while also wearing the "djellabah" robe and observing many of the more traditional parts of Moroccan culture.
Because of the winding streets of Marrakesh's historic center, almost all Moroccans ride motorbikes to get around.
The women in Hajjaj's photographs are musicians, dancers, restaurant workers, or Henna artists.
Most of Hajjaj's subjects are friends or friends of friends he has known for 15 years or more.
Hajjaj calls these women tough, saying that many are full-time mothers, who work 10-hour days and speak five languages.
Hajjaj calls Karima "one of my heroes." Karima is a full-time henna artist, who is married with two kids.
Hajjaj took inspiration from pop culture, such as the movie "Easy Rider," MTV, hip-hop, and fashion for the project.
The borders of each photograph are actually hand-made frames, constructed of found objects like soda cans.
Hajjaj says the photos are colorful because Morocco is a "very colorful nation."
Hajjaj designed many of the djellabahs himself.
Many in Morroco sew or iron on the logos of popular fashion brands like Nike to "keep up with the Westerners," Hajjaj says.
Much of the difficulty in improving gender equality in Morocco lies with a legal system constricted by Islam.
Morocco's King Mohammed VI has made efforts to reform the legal system, but it is slow-going. Many Moroccans, like the women Hajjaj photographed, have taken it upon themselves to go around the legal system to get the rights they desire.
Morocco isn't the only place with surprising subcultures...
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