Between Arab Americans and Muslim Americans
It is vital that we understand each other's culture. A lot of tragedy stem from misunderstanding and the unwillingness to open up one's mind to different perspectives. Take for instance the differences between an Arab American and a Muslim.The most common notion of Arab Americans is that they all practice Islam. A person who comes from an Arab-speaking nation is bound to be one, right? Wrong! What makes a person a follower of Islam is neither the place of origin nor the culture they grew up in. It is the true devotion to Allah. And what is ironic is that the Muslims in America are composed mostly of African Americans and Asian Americans. A large percentage of Arab Americans are actually Christians and not Muslims. Neither do they dress up like Aladdin nor look like one.
Arab Americans are one of the most diverse ethnic group. They may have different physical attributes, but most of them have fair skin and light eyes and hair, genetic gifts from the people of Caucasia which is bordered on the south by Turkey and Iran. The darker skinned Arab Americans mainly came from the northern lands in Africa. And as more people from different races and cultures intermarry with each other, the Arab Americans have grown into a melting pot of people.
In Arab culture you give great respect to members who represent authority. It would be impolite, disrespectful to give one direct consistent eye contact. So they may look, then look away, they look, then they look away.
Another possible source of confusion is Arab names. Arab and Muslim names are spelled in a variety of ways in English because some Arabic sounds do not exist in the English alphabet. Arab names typically have four parts however most forms in America only allow space for two or three names. Due to these and other cultural factors the same name maybe spelled differently or different names may appear in different documents for the same individual.
Famous personalities such as Paula Abdul and Christa MacAuliffe, the teacher in the Challenger explosion, are Arab Americans. In fact, Arab Americans have been documented to have begun migrating to the States since the 1800s. One can therefore say Arab Americans are very much a part of the thread that makes up the colorful tapestry of American society.
The Muslims, on the other hand, are not as diverse as the Arab Americans. A great majority have African and Asian roots. Instead of turbans (which the Sikhs, an ethnic group from northern India, wore) Muslim men wear round caps and Muslim women wear head scarves. Both genders wear long clothing that covers most of their bodies. Modesty is important in Islam.
There are many beliefs and practices in Islam that non-Muslims might misinterpret as suspicious behavior. In Islam, men and women follow different sets of rules of behaving in public. However, this does not mean the women are oppressed or that the men are tyrants.
The men and women pray in different parts of the mosque in order to commune closer with Allah and focus more on their prayers. This is also in accordance with the value of modesty which is held in high esteem by Muslims.
Shoes are removed before entering the area dedicated to prayer. Avoid stepping on the prayer rug with your shoes.
It is inappropriate to interrupt someone in prayer. Typically one will walk behind or far ahead of the person in prayer or wait till he or she is finished before they pass or approach.
Respect and modesty for some Muslims may mean not touching someone of the opposite sex even in the case of a handshake. It is better to let the person of the opposite sex extend his or her hand as a signal that it is all right to shake hands.
It may also be inappropriate to enter a home if only someone of the opposite sex is present. If circumstances permit, return when a resident of the same gender is available.
An individual may wish to be interviewed apart from their families. Individuals may wish to be interviewed apart from their families to save face. Publicity and public scenes may also cause unnecessary embarrassment and humiliation.
The proper protocol when offered a drink or a snack would be to accept it. Saying "No thank you" even if said in a very polite way can be offensive.
Accept the offering even if you choose not to eat or drink it. This is considered more acceptable than rejecting their hospitality.
In cases involving police searches extra scrutiny should be the result of behavioral characteristics rather than physical appearance or attire. Indiscriminate touching of a head covering or body may be perceived as offensive. Be aware that a male staring at or touching a woman is considered offensive. If a search of a woman's scarf is warranted, police officers must explain why she needs to remove it. Public searches of the head scarf are viewed as humiliating and violates one's religious tenets. It is better to have a female officer bring her into a private room and ask her to remove the scarf herself.
Paying attention to details like these will go a long way in building rapport and cooperation with the Arab and Muslim American communities.
Labels: arab americans, jobs search sites, muslim americans, workplace diversity
posted by diversityworking @ 9:36 AM
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