B C Chapter 9 Middle Eastern Americans

B C Push – Pull Factors Push Factors; From their homeland Over population Poverty Limited economic opportunities Seeking a better life

B C Push – Pull Factors Cont. Pull Factors; Into the United States Cultural diversity Economic opportunities Higher standard of living Educational opportunities Career opportunities Ease of rapid travel

B C Sociohistorical Perspective The Middle East and Central Asia (p.340) Structural Conditions Middle Eastern immigration follows the same pattern as other immigrants Usually settle in urban areas Many are trained professionals or skilled technicians – unlike Europeans in 1900s

B C Structural Conditions Followed chain-migration pattern of earlier immigrants Some plan to return to their homes later, [or do they?] Many have marketable skills, … lead to good salaries –Little incentive to assimilate, and acculturate –Obtain professional and salaried positions

B C Structural Conditions 2 Some Americanization does occur with the second generation –First generation does not have to make many cultural sacrifices Early immigrants encountered some prejudice and discrimination –Ethnophaulisms, … 9 /11 increased suspicious about Arab Americans … social distance increased

B C Arab Americans Arab, … a broad term covering diverse nationalities, religions, and socioeconomic backgrounds –See Table 9.1, … p. 342 (Arabic immigrants) … from 22 nations, … have many cultural differences Over 1 million live in the United States An urban population with most living in the North East,… Dearborn Michigan

B C Arab Americans Cont. 250,000 live in South Eastern Michigan Many arrive in 1967, … Arab-Israeli war –Largest Muslim population (Dearborn, MI) –40% of Arabs live in the North East, U.S. –12% in the West

B C Social Organization Have established institutions to help preserve cultural heritage, ethnic unity and unite the community –Newspapers, radios, social and financial services Kinship links help stabilize community life Each month many Arab Americans send vast amounts of money to their relatives

B C Residential Pattering Repeated the pattern of earlier European immigrants 91% of all Arabs are urban Religious diversity: 34% Moslem, 30% Orthodox Christian, 25% Catholic, 10% Protestant

B C Stereotypes Must distinguish before and after Before –Rarely portrayed Arabs as ordinary people –Seen as oil rich billionaires –Wrestling villain, … Abdullah the Butcher … Ali Boo-Boo

B C Overcoming Stereotypes Had to dissociate themselves from terrorism Some Anti-Arab reactions after 9 –11 –Sporadic acts of violence No calls for actions similar to that taken against the Japanese after Pearl Harbor Many first generation Arabs found their loyalties questioned