Scientific event

Socio-cultural transformations and the phenomenon of divorce in the Algerian family: Algerian families are undergoing rapid socio-cultural transformations. Anthropological studies conducted over the last two decades have focused on the structure and functions of this social institution (such as marriage, childhood, and youth). These findings underscore the urgent need for continued field research and ongoing reflection on the structural and circumstantial nature of these simultaneous and successive changes. The phenomenon of divorce: dimensions and statistical indicators: In this context, divorce stands out as one of the most significant phenomena affecting the family and its social bonds. It disrupts the mechanisms of the family structure, impacts its social cohesion, and undermines the usual organization of social roles between partners from the very beginning of the marital relationship. Official data issued by the National Statistics Office indicates that divorce rates in Algeria doubled between 2005 (10%) and 2020 (20%). This increase coincides with a relative decline in marriage rates recorded since 2014. The legal framework and the repercussions of "khul'": It is worth noting that the legal framework governing marriage in Algeria underwent a fundamental amendment following the adoption of the amended and supplemented Family Code under Ordinance No. 05-02 issued in 2005, which granted wives the option of dissolving the marriage through the mechanism of "khul'." Despite differing interpretations of this amendment—between those who classify it as a challenge to male dominance and those who see it as a step towards achieving equality in rights and citizenship between spouses—the repercussions of this event on the family structure and its functions, particularly on children, cannot be ignored. Field observations demonstrate that divorce has clear economic dimensions (without neglecting the psychological consequences), as it is directly linked to the marital home, alimony payments, and the social and health care of children. The activities of the study day: "Divorce, Parenthood, Stigma, and Social Changes." This academic gathering discusses the phenomenon of divorce through two consecutive sessions that aim to provide a comprehensive view of the topic. The first session is dedicated to providing an overview of the phenomenon and reviewing the field results that highlight the most important findings of a research project on "the management of khul' (divorce initiated by the wife)." This is followed by a discussion of the legal dimensions of divorce in Algerian legislation, then the presentation of an anthropological approach to divorce through deconstructing the concept of male dominance, and the presentation of the results of a field investigation into the status of the child in judicial rulings related to divorce. The second session focuses on the approach of "Representations and the Experience of Divorce," where presentations examine the impact of a child's disability on the dissolution of the marital bond, the child's perception of divorced parents, and the social representations of khul' among lawyers.