Is Morroco now and i have questions

Here are some things that really intrigues me, excuse my ignorance on these different topics.

Where are all the women? We traveled from Marrakech to Merzouga, in every village we could see hundreds of men and only a few women, no women in gas stations or Cafés, why? -Are the women not allowed to go out?

What are people doing in the middle of nowhere? Driving across the country we would see random people walking in places that we had not seen a house for an hour or so, what are they doing?

What are some women picking up on the side of the roads? We could see some women picking some herbs or grass on the sides of roads, what are they picking up? At the same time we could see bands of men just chilling in the entry of every village while women were working is this a common thing?

I have more questions but let's start with those. Thanks