Hadj-Moussa 281everal authors have discussed the adjustments required of the fam-S
ily that are provoked by national and satellite television.^32 I will not dwell
on their findings. I want to concentrate here on certain aspects of these
adjustments which lead to the following questions: How are the politics of
language reflected in television viewing? How are these politics translated
in a gendered context? And how is such a translation expressed in [the
construction of] public space?
Gender or language?
To explain the civil war (1992–99) and the predicament of the Algerian
political system, many invoke the polarization of Algerian citizens into
two camps: those favoring Arabic acculturation, neglected by a system
that has failed to integrate them; and those favoring French accultura-
tion, whom the system has continued to serve and benefit.^33 (Indeed, it is
claimed that this is one of the reasons why proponents of Arabic accultur-
ation have embraced Islam.) The standard explanation for the polarization
of the two camps is the language of schooling, which since the 1970s has
been in Arabic. In fact, the real explanation lies in Algerian perceptions of
gender differences. This is evident in the satellite television viewing habits
of Algerians.
hen asked about the satellite television viewing habits of men W
and women, the majority of men interviewed^34 clearly indicated that they
preferred for women—especially their sisters—to watch national televi-
sion or the other Arab networks (MBC, which is owned by Saudi inter-
ests and broadcasts out of London, and ART [Arab Radio & Television]).
The main reason given for limiting the feminine sex to these choices is
that unlike the foreign networks, the Arab networks respect decency and
decorum. MBC appears to attract only a small number of men, including
those whose educational background is Arabic. Apart from its news- and
sports-casting, MBC is ranked with the national network:
Yes, I know that Algerian women just love Egyptian movies,
but me, I don’t like them. Always the same storylines of rich
business men and their lovers. That is all there is on MBC.