Although equipped with the same lessons on fairness and equality, things were somewhat different for me as a child when I tried to employ those same instructions. When it came to curfews, after-school activities, choosing a college – basically anything that involved any semblance of independence – impartiality was unheard of. Disparate treatment between me and my brothers wasn’t only apparent, it was celebrated. Even in adulthood, the phrase “Because he’s a boy” continues to goad and haunt me to my very core.

          Perhaps it’s ridiculous naiveté, but I’m still perplexed as to where this sense of male entitlement and superiority spawns: Tradition? Religion? Culture? Whatever the justification might be – reas... [Read More]

Khalil Gibran International Academy Controversy Leaves Arab American Community Vulnerable

By Eman Ahmed

NEW YORK, 11 Aug. 2007, (Arabisto.com):

The controversy that surrounded the Khalil Gibran International Academy (“KGIA”) over the last few months has left me completely dismayed and utterly disheartened. The KGIA was thought to be a remarkable coup for our entire community; amidst all of the negativity thrust upon Arabs in this country over the last few years, an opportunity arose where our culture and language would not only be celebrated, but taught within the New York City Public School system. All students, Arab and non-Arab, would be given an opportunity to learn the splendor of the Arabic language and the beauty of Arabic culture and history, all under the auspices of the NYC Department of Education. What an amazing feat for our entire community.

It was foreseeable that the inception of the school would be met with some resistance. Despite the better efforts of many, ignorance and racism are epidemics that even education doesn’t seem to cure. Whether we like it or not, the word “Arab” used in any context can be cause for alarm in even the most well minded individual. Also, the image of Arabs painted by modern-day media isn’t the most positive likeness of our people. And as we got closer and closer to the start of the semester, the negative media imaging only seemed to get more outrageous and more desperate. Articles in the New York Post painted the school as a training ground for future terrorists. Websites and organizations were developed and devoted to “Stop the Madrassa”. Ignorance and fear, mixed with an extensive smear campaign by “respectable jou... [Read More]

The Question of Arab American Assimilation

By Eman Ahmed

 
N.Y., New York - 17 July 2007 (Arabisto.com):

I was approached last week by a journalist from the UK who was doing a piece on how Arabs in the UK are being criticized for not fully assimilating and integrating into English society. She was wondering if the same “problem” existed here in the US. That got me thinking – why is assimilation and lack thereof defined in such black and white, good and bad terms? Is it really a “problem” if Arabs don’t “assimilate”?

 
Growing up, I wanted nothing more than to fit into mainstream “white” society. During the day, I walked, talked, dressed and acted just like my American peers. It wasn’t until at night that the Arab in me truly came out – at home with my parents, talking in Arabic, watching Arab movies, eating Arabic food and following our Arab customs and traditions. It was almost as if I was living a double-life - white by day and Arab at night. My neighbors and school friends would tell me that I was “Americanized”, and I wore that moniker as if it was a badge of honor – an achievement I attained despite my parents’ better efforts.

I didn’t really learn to appreciate my “Arabness” until many years passed by. For the last two years, I’ve become immersed in the Arab-American community and have come to realize the beauty of having that dual identity. In accepting my Arab identity, I’ve come to appreciate the benefit of being more than just “an American” – a homogenized individual who shunned his/her heritage and ethnicity.

It’s funny, because in elementary school, we were taught how amazing America is with its diversity. The term “melting pot&rdquo... [Read More]

            In this ever-changing world of technology and scientific advancement, it’s hard to imagine any convenience that hasn’t already been created or is in the process of being formed. Lights turn on with the clap of a hand; electronic cars freely roam the streets; computers are no longer a novelty – but an absolute necessity in every home; IM terminology has become a part of mainstream language and the email phenomena has made its mark – effectively changing the way we communicate with each other forever. And although as a society, we seem to be progressing forward, every once in a while we get a cold dose of reality – that as much as things seem to change, they also stay the same.

            I’ll never forget a story I saw on TV when I was a teenager (which was sadly many moons ago). It was the story of a Pakistani father in the Bronx. A Pakistani Muslim father had killed his teenage daughter because she allegedly had a boyfriend. The father declared that his daughter’s action had caused such irrevocable dishonor to his entire family that his only recourse was to end her life. It was a matter of honor. At the time, it was shocking to me that a father would actually kill his own daughter because of what he perceived to be... [Read More]

            In the not-so-distant past, I had a little argument with a good friend of mine over the use of the word “feminism”. Although there isn’t a clear-cut definition of what being a feminist entails, I openly define myself of such, much to the chagrin of my conservative family. It’s actually pretty funny; despite the lack of a definitive explanation of the term, the word “feminism” still has a negative connotation. But that wasn’t my friend’s disdain with the use of the word. Her argument, which I find very interesting, is that believing in equal rights for women shouldn’t be a separate and distinct concept or cause – women’s causes should be a concern for society as a whole. Thus, the term itself is superfluous and unnecessary. Although I must applaud her zeal and passion, I think that such a concept is a little far removed, especially within the Arab community.

         Ironically, in a culture that presumably places women on a pedestal and claims women are the backbone of the family-unit, the Women’s Rights Movement still has a long way to go in the Arab world.  There are still Arab countries that deny suffrage to women; certain countries impose a mandatory dress code for women alone, with extreme consequences for all those who break the rules; everyday tasks that most women in the US take for granted (such as driving or making errands unchaperoned) are still prohibited; ... [Read More]

The Pitfalls of Being an Arab-American Male

            As an Arab-American woman fighting to find a suitable balance between two cultures that inevitably clash, it’s difficult to lend an empathetic ear to my male counterparts. In fact, it’s easier at times to fixate and (perhaps) exaggerate the role they play in making that quest nearly impossible. But the truth is that Arab-American males also face difficulties in finding a balance between the Arab and American cultures. Although in my opinion, the situation isn’t necessarily comparable to the experiences of Arab-American women, these men also experience opposing pressures that make finding a proper balance quite challenging.

            Being a part of a patriarchal cultural translates into a lot of responsibility for the Arab male. He is raised to believe and expected to not only be Bread-Winner and Wage-Earner, but Provider of a Home and Decision-Maker as... [Read More]

 The recent massacre at Virginia Tech called to a light a number of pertinent societal issues that mostly get tossed into the news after moments of crisis. Beyond the talk of gun reform, school security and mental health issues on campus, the recent tragedy also called to light the problems faced by Generation 1.5 – the designation assigned to individuals who immigrated to the US during their adolescence. The tribulations attributed to this generation stem from its need to find a balance between two cultures that might at times clash. Feelings of displacement, alienation and perhaps even resentment run amuck amongst this generation. And although it took a recent tragedy to call attention to this generation’s plight, I posit that First Generation Arab-Americans face many of the same issues as their Generation 1.5 counterparts.

Growing up as a daughter to Egyptian immigrants who sought the fertile soil of the US thirty years ago for a better life has been no easy charge. Although encouraged to seek an education and challenge myself intellectually, I was also raised with the subliminal misogynistic undertones of a culture that deemed a woman’s ultimate goal in life to be a wife and mother. The decision to enter law school was met with both pride and fear from my parents

On the surface, this obstacle might not seem unique to only first generation Arab-American women. Articles flood the Dating and Personals sections on most websites that emphasize the plight of today’s educated woman

 What makes the situation unique for Arab-American women is that beyond addressing a general societal issue.

The question then remains how to deal with this dichotomist way of thinking. Is that even possible? The problem morphs into a much bigger issue that touches even beyond the career vs. family debate for Arab women. With family considered the ultimate goal... [Read More]