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Being ArabEthnic and Religious Identity Building among Second Generation Youth in Montreal |
eBook Available
A timely study of how young Arab-Canadians experience ethnicity and religion.
Arabs in North America are often perceived to be a monolithic group. Being Arab explores how Muslim and Christian Arab-Canadian youth actually negotiate their ethnic and religious identities. Focusing on the experiences of students from five colleges in Montreal, Paul Eid considers the influence of parental socialization, gender-related traditionalism, and perceived discrimination and stereotyping.
Eid looks at the significance of religion to ethnic identity building, a largely understudied issue in ethnic studies, and the extent to which social and cultural practices are structured along ethnic and religious lines. Being Arab also analyzes whether gendered traditions act as identity markers for young Canadians of Arab descent and whether men and women hold different views on traditional gender roles, especially regarding power within romantic relationships and sexuality.
Being Arab pays close attention to the views of second-generation Arab-Canadians about prejudice and discrimination in Canadian society, particularly in the media. Eid finds that the Arab youth in this study generally feel accepted by Canadians but often downplay their Arab background as a way to ward off anticipated prejudice. He also offers an insightful account of why children of Arab immigrants seem to experience and react differently to intolerance in Canada and in France.
Eid looks at the significance of religion to ethnic identity building, a largely understudied issue in ethnic studies, and the extent to which social and cultural practices are structured along ethnic and religious lines. Being Arab also analyzes whether gendered traditions act as identity markers for young Canadians of Arab descent and whether men and women hold different views on traditional gender roles, especially regarding power within romantic relationships and sexuality.
Being Arab pays close attention to the views of second-generation Arab-Canadians about prejudice and discrimination in Canadian society, particularly in the media. Eid finds that the Arab youth in this study generally feel accepted by Canadians but often downplay their Arab background as a way to ward off anticipated prejudice. He also offers an insightful account of why children of Arab immigrants seem to experience and react differently to intolerance in Canada and in France.
Details
Part of the McGill-Queen's Studies in Ethnic History Series (number 2.22 in series)
272 Pages, 6 x 9
ISBN 9780773532229
July 2007
Formats: Cloth, Paperback, eBook
"Being Arab, by Paul Eid ... skillfully examin(es) how second-generation Arab youths in Canada negotiate their ethnic and religious identities in a social and cultural context that they often perceive as hostile to their cultural heritage ... Well written and well researched ... it will be of interest to scholars broadly interested in ethnicity and religion, immigrant incorporation, and identity processes, as well as those more specifically interested in Arab communities in the diaspora." American Journal of Sociology
"This book is much more than an exploration of what it means to be Arab as its title implies. Rather, Paul Eid herein presents an intimate study of how second generation Arabs in Montreal navigate through life while simultaneously remembering their Middle Eastern roots. Surpassing other works dealing either with religion or ethnicity, this book investigates how the two factors intermingle to create the distinctive culture of these individuals. Combining quantitative analysis with systematic qualitative studies, Eid not only successfully conveys his findings to readers but also provides an accurate glimpse into a particular community and their day-to-day dealings with their families and Canadian society at large." Kathryn Carriere, University of Ottawa
"This book is much more than an exploration of what it means to be Arab as its title implies. Rather, Paul Eid herein presents an intimate study of how second generation Arabs in Montreal navigate through life while simultaneously remembering their Middle Eastern roots. Surpassing other works dealing either with religion or ethnicity, this book investigates how the two factors intermingle to create the distinctive culture of these individuals. Combining quantitative analysis with systematic qualitative studies, Eid not only successfully conveys his findings to readers but also provides an accurate glimpse into a particular community and their day-to-day dealings with their families and Canadian society at large." Kathryn Carriere, University of Ottawa
Paul Eid is a researcher at Quebec's Commission des droits de la personne et des droits de la jeunesse. He lives in Montreal.
Being Arab
Paul Eid
Table of Contents
Introduction ix
1 The Arab Presence and Identity in Canada 3
Historical Background of Arab Immigration to Canada 3
National Identity in the Postcolonial Arab World:
The Role of Religion 13
A Sociodemographic Profile of Arab Canadians Today 16
2 Building Ethnic and Religious Identity 20
Deconstructing Ethnic Identity 20
When Religion and Ethnicity Meet 32
Methodological Concerns 41
3 Ingroup and Outgroup Boundaries: Structural Factors 47
The Role of Prejudice and Discrimination 47
Gender Traditions as Ethnoreligious Identity Markers 57
4 The Place of Ethnicity in Their Lives 62
The Global Index of Ethnic Identity:
A Quantitative Outlook 63
Self-Labelling Patterns 65
Attitudes towards Ethnic Endogamy 74
Cultural Exposure and Practice 81
Ingroup Friendship 86
Parental Commitment to Ethnic Identity Transmission 93
5 The Place of Religion in Their Lives 103
The Global Index of Religious Identity:
A Quantitative Outlook 103
The Importance of Religion in Their Lives 106
Attitudes towards Religious Endogamy 109
Ritual Observance 112
Participation in Religious Social Affairs 118
Concluding Remarks 119
6 Attitudes toward Gender Traditions 122
Gender Tradition Scale: A Quantitative Look 124
Marital Power Relations 125
Premarital Virginity 134
Premarital Dating 142
Female Virginity and Family Reputation 146
7 Perceived Prejudice and Discrimination 151
Perceived Negative Stereotyping 154
Sef-Experienced Anti-Arab Discrmination 166
A Comparison with France 174
Conclusion 179
Appendices
a Variable and Index Measurement 195
b Coding of Variables 207
c Questionnaire 217
d Interview Question Sheet 228
Notes 231
Bibliography 239
Index 253
Paul Eid
Table of Contents
Introduction ix
1 The Arab Presence and Identity in Canada 3
Historical Background of Arab Immigration to Canada 3
National Identity in the Postcolonial Arab World:
The Role of Religion 13
A Sociodemographic Profile of Arab Canadians Today 16
2 Building Ethnic and Religious Identity 20
Deconstructing Ethnic Identity 20
When Religion and Ethnicity Meet 32
Methodological Concerns 41
3 Ingroup and Outgroup Boundaries: Structural Factors 47
The Role of Prejudice and Discrimination 47
Gender Traditions as Ethnoreligious Identity Markers 57
4 The Place of Ethnicity in Their Lives 62
The Global Index of Ethnic Identity:
A Quantitative Outlook 63
Self-Labelling Patterns 65
Attitudes towards Ethnic Endogamy 74
Cultural Exposure and Practice 81
Ingroup Friendship 86
Parental Commitment to Ethnic Identity Transmission 93
5 The Place of Religion in Their Lives 103
The Global Index of Religious Identity:
A Quantitative Outlook 103
The Importance of Religion in Their Lives 106
Attitudes towards Religious Endogamy 109
Ritual Observance 112
Participation in Religious Social Affairs 118
Concluding Remarks 119
6 Attitudes toward Gender Traditions 122
Gender Tradition Scale: A Quantitative Look 124
Marital Power Relations 125
Premarital Virginity 134
Premarital Dating 142
Female Virginity and Family Reputation 146
7 Perceived Prejudice and Discrimination 151
Perceived Negative Stereotyping 154
Sef-Experienced Anti-Arab Discrmination 166
A Comparison with France 174
Conclusion 179
Appendices
a Variable and Index Measurement 195
b Coding of Variables 207
c Questionnaire 217
d Interview Question Sheet 228
Notes 231
Bibliography 239
Index 253
