Gia Shafer

EDU Assignment 3

There are many cultural differences and common assimilations between Arab Americans

and Americans. To be an Arab, is not to come from a particular race, like Americans, it is a

cultural trait. Any person that adopts the Arabic language is typically called an Arab. Arabic is

written and spoken of more than 150 million inhabitants. Arab’s families are the center of

everything, honor and education is very important, religion is central in all things and age and

wisdom are honored. Western cultures believe family and friendship are equally important.

Honor and shame are not typically as important, religion varies by the individual and youth and

beauty are praised. Clothing and respect are also vastly different.

Arab clothing for men ranges from traditional clothing to American clothing. Often they

wear flowing robes to allow air flow around the bodies as well as wear headdresses. The head

dresses pattern can be an indicator of which tribe, clan or family they are from. Arabic women

are very conservative wearing full length clothing and covering most of their face with a robe

and veil.

Arab women are typically subordinate to men; the extent varies by countries. Things you

should do are respect the privacy and roles of Arabic women. Respect the different living areas

for men and women and do not expect a woman to eat or socialize in the same room as men.

Never shake hands with an Arab woman unless she offers her had first, do not flirt, touch, hug or

talk to an Arab woman in private. Do not talk to a professional Arab woman unless it is business

related, do not engage in conversation unless you have been formally introduced, do not stare or

maintain eye contact as well as ask an Arab man about his wife or other family members.
 Arabs honor and respect their family they highly respect friendships but the family’s kin

and honor are most important. The larger the family is the better, they believe their son’s will

care for the elderly parents, this is why men/sons are favored. Arab’s believe only sons bring

family honor and daughters only bring shame. Fathers are the authority figure while mothers

have authority over the house and children. Arranged marriages are normal, not mandatory, and

usually men will have one to four wives. The husband is expected to provide the house they will

live in, food, clothing, and financial support to his wife and future family. Children are not

encouraged to speak and will live at home until they marry, unlike American children. In a

divorce male child at the age of 9 and female children at the age of 12 are awarded to the father,

younger children are awarded to their mother.

Arab Americans have been settling in the United States since the 1880’s and they live in

all 50 states. Two thirds live in 10 states, one third of the total live in California, New York and

Michigan. Approximately 94% live in metropolitan areas. Education is a top priority of all Arab

Americans, 85% of Arab Americans have obtained their high school diploma, more than 40%

have a BA or higher compared to 24% of Americans. 17% of Arab American have a post

graduate degree, which is twice the American average of 9%. Since 9/11 most American

Americans have experienced some sort of stereotyping as a terrorist. This negative stereotyping

has united Arab Americans to counter and portray themselves not only as Arab but also as

Americans. I believe Arab American traditions and values are a benefit to our country. My

pediatrician, Dr. Hesham A Sirsy MBBS, MD graduated from University of Cario in 1979; he is

an exceptional doctor and I have been with him for 17 years. Ali Zaman worked as an Arabic

teacher for 3 years in the Middle East, then as an instructor for Academia School in Honolulu,

Hawaii for 5 years servicing the U.S Army and Marine Corp. he has also worked for the Federal,
State, and DA office in the state of Hawaii. Now he resides in Henderson, NV and give back by

tutoring children and adults in the Arab language.

Works Cited

El-Aswad, El-Sayed. "Narrating The Self Among Arab Americans: A Bridging Discourse
Between Arab Tradition And American Culture." DOMES: Digest Of Middle East Studies 19.2
(2010): 234-248. Academic Search Complete. Web. 16 Apr. 2016.

"Ara." ARAB CULTURAL AWARENESS: 58 FACTSHEETS. OFFICE OF THE DEPUTY

CHIEF OF STAFF FOR INTELLIGENCE US ARMY TRAINING AND DOCTRINE
COMMAND FT. LEAVENWORTH, KANSAS, Jan. 2006. Web. 17 Apr. 2016.