Running head: Cultural and ethnic studies of Arabs in united states 1

Cultural and ethnic studies of Arabs in united states

Institutional affiliation

Students name

Date
Cultural and ethnic studies of Arabs in united states 2

Cultural and ethnic studies of Arabs in united states

Culture is described to be a shared pattern of values, assumptions and behaviors of

specific groups of people living together. They own a structured sense of belonging to that

community since a common factor unifies them. Many cities have their different patterns

which differentiate them from the rest of the communities. This pattern can be either sharable

or not sharable. Arabs are among the cultures living in united states Al Wekhian, (2016).

Their treasured customs contribute equitably to the diverse population of the nation. They

take part in cultural activities that unify them together all over the world to a common factor.

United States of America a nation with diverse cultures, the Arabs are represented as

the minority in the region. Their presence in the united states was influenced by immigration

from their countries of origin. These people converged to form a broadly diverse community

with varied cultures that depicts the current image of the United States. Amongst this

immigrant is the Latinos. The Arabs arrived in the United States from the 19th century and

have acquired settlement near large cities Al Wekhian, (2016). They have formed a diverse

population that represents almost every country and religion from Arabs Nations. Since then,

the Arabs have become the Americans citizens and acquired a new name which is Arab

Americans.

Based on the cultural context, the Arabs community in the united states have a

collective culture trait. These are inherited from their countries of origin, whereby they work

in groups to achieve a common objective. Arabs encourage themselves always to do what

social value MacDonald, (2015). They teach them to put the needs of the society or the

community ahead of individual needs. From their perspective, they believe working as a

group will ease the workload of their target. It will generally build a communal achievement
Cultural and ethnic studies of Arabs in united states 3

whereby the other individuals feel valued to coexist with their members. This common factor

leads to mutual support of each other.

The cultural differences of the communities living in this nation can influence their

responsibility greatly MacDonald, (2015). Culture is, therefore perceived to be showing how

people behave and also their self-concept. The other cultures in us who are governed through

individualism express themselves through personality traits, for example in forms of been

kind, funny or sport. The Arabs have been in collective culture usually perceived their

expressions differently since they speak in ordinary language, for example, by touching on

been a good son or friend Read, (2015). This trait explains their collective concern for one

another.

Arabs relationship also is confined to their common trait, whereby it isn't

straightforward for them to coexist outside their residence MacDonald, (2015). It isn't

effortless for them to make new friends in new habitats not unless they are blessed under

similar personality traits. These are contributed by the fact that decision making is done

communally and destined to last for long: therefore, falling apart from this process means a

long-term dissatisfaction.

The Arabs treasure their language and their eloquence and use its art that has

channeled them to a path of films productions. The Arabs take part in movie setup and

employ their cultural traits that put on high ranks in the market. Another is the Arabic foods

that unite the community together Read, (2015). Arab children would take Arabs foods to

school and share them with other communities, and they will all enjoy the descent diversity.

The Arabs still embrace their cultural arts which varies from comedy, singers and poets.

These people would compete with other Americans for prestigious stages to showcase their

art without any limitation.

Cultural and ethnic studies of Arabs in united states 4

Arab Americans value the family as the center of generative and continuity of their

culture. Family is, therefore, essential value as it is a sign of identity to them and connects

them to the other side of the world. Although they live in an individualistic nation, it is very

difficult for them to break their most treasured cultural bond. They, therefore, work

vehemently with the motive of preserving their communal nature and communal

responsibility Nydell, (2018). The Arabs have made it very difficult to impose individualism

to their culture and therefore preserving the identity of the Arab community as a whole rather

than focusing on just a single individual.

Time is a cultural value that the Arabs view as celebrated rather than strictly followed.

They never work with timelines of other communities since to them they lack behind in most

aspects that require an immediate response to deadlines and timelines Cainkar, (2017). For

them being in America where the country itself is structured to work with timelines where

another session cannot start before the end of another just to ensure the complete transition of

work within the cause of time.

Arab Americans have an extended religious background. The Arabs nation as

perceived are Muslim, but after immigration to the United States most of them transformed to

Christianity, and that's the reason why a large percentage of their population are Christians,

Catholics orthodox and the least been Muslims. Currently, the Muslim percentage of Arab

Americans is increasing due to new immigrants. Religion is the epitome or center of

individual development in Arab American culture.

In the Arab American community, privacy is a cultural value that is much concern to

the person. The people do not share their most valued information with other members other

than their family Nydell, (2018). The person sharing private information to an outsider is

punished. Any member of the Arab community who is affected cannot share that information
Cultural and ethnic studies of Arabs in united states 5

with the other members and will sort to go and stay in places or with people that would

emotionally influence their happiness to better rather than sharing the effects of their stress.

The Arabs also build their homes and divide them into sections where they don't allow

visitors and areas where visitors can converge. The girl's female visitors are allowed to meet

with daughters or wives in their rooms Cainkar, (2017). Also, when the house they live in is

small, they schedule meetings whereby the visitor does not find members of the family which

they have no business with.

The persons' religions are a complete depiction of their self-values, beliefs. The Arabs

have embraced all the denominations since the united states are structured with a wide variety

of religions. Also, every individual is never restricted to belong to one or more of them. Since

other Americans communities are governed by individualism, the government is structured

through individualism. These influences their continued pressure to separate religion and

social foundations. These are because religion is a personal trait that each person should treat

the way they feel is right for them.

The sex and gender roles in the Arab American community, fathers, are the heads of

family and are required to take care of the family. They do this by making sure every family

member gets access to basic rights Nydell, (2018). In case they are not in a position to avail

all this, their wives assist them, and still, the husbands remain as the final center of the

decision. This incapability is due to rapid changes in the united states where the husband may

lose a job, and the wife is financially stable.

The Arabs wives remain at home to do their duty which is to raise the children and

guide them through the education sector. The Arab Americans wife's unlike others in the

Arab nations engage in business that sustains the family through tough economic times. The

children, on the other hand, are taught to learn from their parents and perform roles they
Cultural and ethnic studies of Arabs in united states 6

destined to do in future Nydell, (2018). Boys are taught of activities outside the house while

girls are taught how to maintain the house and keep it in order.

Based on acculturation the Arab Americans over time have been assimilated into the

larger society of the united states. These are achieved through the study of the Arabs most

treasured cultural beliefs and traditions and slowly introducing a new scheme that they would

consider as an alternative MacDonald, (2015). With time, the Arabs nation will be wiped out.

The social perception of Arabs influences this factor of acculturation. The government is

introducing new laws that undermine the existence of Arabs or branding them as terrorist

contributes entirely to acculturation. Most of the Arabs ascent has already been wiped out and

are now part of the larger society Cainkar, (2017). The Arabs skin color favors them to fit in

the majority population, although they are not entirely white.

In conclusion, Arab American are united together and always working together to

ensure their cultural beliefs and traditions are not completely erased no matter the social

influence. There is a sign of identity to them and society. So, to mean that environmental and

economic factors do not influence any change in what they believed in.
Cultural and ethnic studies of Arabs in united states 7

REFERENCES

Al Wekhian, J. (2016). Acculturation process of Arab-Muslim immigrants in the

United States. Asian Culture and History, 8(1), 89-99.

Read, J. N. G. (2015). Gender, religious identity, and civic engagement among Arab

Muslims in the United States. Sociology of Religion, 76(1), 30-48.

Nydell, M. K. (2018). Understanding Arabs: A guide for modern times. Hachette UK.

Cainkar, L. (2017). The social construction of difference and the Arab American

experience. In Immigration, Incorporation and Transnationalism (pp. 225-256). Routledge.

MacDonald, R. W. (2015). The League of Arab States: A Study in Dynamics of

Regional Organization. Princeton University Press.