Chapter 8 Working With Arab Americans

1
Chapter 8 Working With Arab Americans
2
How do typical myths and stereotypes about Arab
Americans compare with reality?

• Stereotype 1 The nomadic desert-tribe Arab
• Stereotype 2 The oil-rich sheik
• Stereotype 3 The Arab terrorist
• Stereotype 4 The violent Muslim fundamentalist
• Stereotype 5 The subservient Arab woman
• Stereotype 6 The dark, swarthy (dangerous?)
  Arab man

3
How have these myths and stereotypes evolved?

• First Wave
• Second Wave
• Terms to Use for Arab Americans

4
What do we know about Arab Americans today?

• Well-Known Arab Americans
• Non-Arab Middle Easterners
• Population
• Countries of Origin
• Where Arab Americans Are Located
• Age Patterns
• Educational Level
• Occupations
• Income
• Family Size

5
What are typical values and customs of Middle
Eastern cultures?

• Language
• Worldviews and Religions
• Christians
• Muslims
• Integration of Church and State
• Muslims Worldwide
• Muslim Belief
• Religious Education

6
What are typical values and customs of Middle
Eastern cultures? (Continued)

• Family Values and Customs
• Gender Differences
• Manly Honor
• Girls Sexual Morality
• Typical Marriages
• Muslim Social Customs
• Using Physical Space
• Handshaking
• Body Covering
• Food

7
What issues are currently most important to Arab
Americans?

• Issue 1 Israel-Palestine Conflict
• Issue 2 U.S. Mideast Oil Policy
• Issue 3 American-Arab Culture Clash
• Islamic Culture
• Government
• Womens Honor
• Islam as a Religion or as Culture
• American Culture
• The Middle Class and Freedom
• Women and The Feminine
• Generation Gap

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What issues are currently most important to Arab
Americans? (Continued)

• Issue 4 Discriminatory Profiling
• Political Activism
• U.S. Government Policy
• Arab American Organizations
• Issue 5 Representation in U.S. Politics

9
How can I help the organization meet the needs
and wants of Arab Americans?

• Give protection from stereotyping
• Get to know them as individuals
• Recognize their personal strengths and potential
• Capitalize on their networking skills