Working with Arab Americans

Stereotypes 1. Arab Americans are descended from Nomadic Desert Tribes 2. They Come from Oil-Rich Middle Eastern Countries 3. They May Have Terrorist Connections 4. They May be Members of a Violent Islamic Fundamentalist Religion

Stereotypes 5. Arab American Women Are Subservient to the Men 6. Arab Americans Look Different

Past Connections First Wave 1875 to 1920 Lebanon, Syria, and Palestine Primarily farmers or village artisans Second Wave From late 1940’s Immigrated from many countries Wanted to escape civil wars, famine & hardship after WWII Primarily educated, bilingual, & politicized

Current Profile 1% of U.S. Population Geographical Aspects 90% are urban dwellers Northeast - Arab Americans most likely found Midwest - Detroit-Dearborn, Cleveland, Chicago, Toledo South - Southern Federation of Syria-Lebanon Clubs West - So. California & San Francisco Bay Area

Current Profile Demographics Young and growing population Twice as many Arab Americans earn advanced degrees Self-employed, managerial & professional jobs Have the highest mean income of any U.S. group Family Size – depends on length of time in U.S.

Common Threads of Arab Cultures Arabic Language Most unifying factor in Arab culture Poetic, spiritual, emotional & sensuous World Views In Muslim homeland – Allah’s will Arab American identity is a compromise between two cultures

Common Threads of Arab Cultures - Religions Muslim 23% - Christian 77% Muslims More difficult to integrate due to differences in religious beliefs that affect social practices Integration of church & state Non-Arab Muslims The Quran and Five Pillars of Islam Religious Education Maintains social rules & expected behavior

Common Threads of Arab Cultures Family Values & Customs Family is more important than individual Families are patriarchal & extended Family name is guarded by all members Female modesty & chastity reflect on honor of men, family, and community Members of an extended family help each other to immigrate Arabs do not make casual friendships

Common Threads of Arab Cultures Gender Issues Vary by country of origin, rural or urban area, and length of time in U.S. Muslim Households Dramatically different sexual standards for males & females Males acquire more material objects than girls and have much more freedom Marriages are arranged in home countries and recent immigrants tend to follow suit

Common Threads of Arab Cultures - Muslim Social Customs Physical Space – Closest physical proximity Handshaking - Religious Reasons Men may not touch or make direct eye contact with any non family female Remaining untouched near prayer time Body Covering Not universally observed - varies by region & class Food- Muslims do not eat pork

Leadership Challenges & Opportunities Don’t assume they’re Arab or Middle East Experts Give Stereotyping Protection Get to know them as individuals Recognize their personal strengths and potentials Independent, well educated, productive Capitalize on their networking skills