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Immigration in US History Arab American Stereotypes Definition: North American perceptions and misperceptions about Arab immigrants Immigration Issues: Discrimination; Middle Eastern immigrants; Stereotypes; Women Significance: American stereotypes of Arab immigrants are mostly negative and often confuse Arabs with other Middle Eastern peoples Social scientists have not studied stereotypes of Arab Americans in as much detail as those of some other ethnic groups, probably because of the relatively small number of Arab Americans in the United States. Arab American stereotypes are revealed mostly through an examination of media coverage of events such as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the 1970's civil war in Lebanon, and acts of terrorism involving Arabs--particularly since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001--and the depictions of Arabic-speaking people in American films and books. Although many stereotypes are of Arabs, not Arab Americans, the characteristics that are found in them are often attributed to Arab Americans. The Arab stereotype is predominantly a negative image, revolving around a number of overgeneralizations and falsehoods. Arabs have been portrayed in the media as oil millionaires buying up the United States, white slavers, and uncivilized rulers of kingdoms. Palestinians have been depicted as terrorists and called derogatory names such as camel jockeys, ragheads, and sandsuckers. Common misconceptions include the belief that Iranians are Arabs and that all Arabs are Muslims. Before 1930, Hollywood studios frequently portrayed Arabs as members of the French Foreign Legion or royalty, Egyptians, and sheiks. Films from 1961 through 1970 depicted Arabs as royalty, murderers, sheiks, slaves, and slaveowners and often featured harems. Many of the roles incorporated elements designed to show the foreignness of the Arab culture and its supposed lack of civilization in comparison with mainstream American culture. During the 1980's and 1990's, acts of terrorism and conflicts in the Middle East caused Hollywood and the media to add violence and barbarism to the Arab stereotype. Arabs, particularly Arab men, were seen as anti-American, greedy, oil-rich, uncivilized foreigners who were abductors of Western women and, as Muslims, oppressors of women in general. In the media and in film, Islam has been equated with violence, terrorism, and suppression of women. In order to counter the negative stereotyping, prejudice, and discrimination experienced by Arab Americans, numerous scholars have published papers on the topic, and several organizations such as the Association of Arab American University Graduates, the Institute of Middle Eastern and North African Affairs, and the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee have been created to address these topics. One of the concerns about the negative stereotypes in the media is that they are not countered by positive portrayals. In particular, Arab American children are hardly present on television, and the Islamic religion is rarely depicted favorably. Francis C. Staskon Further ReadingAfzal-Khan, Fawzia, ed. Shattering the Stereotypes: Muslim Women Speak Out. New York: Olive Branch Press, 2005. Cole, David. Enemy Aliens: Double Standards and Constitutional Freedoms in the War on Terrorism. New York: New Press/W.W. Norton, 2003. Elaasar, Aladdin. Silent Victims: The Plight of Arab and Muslim Americans in Post 9/11 America. Bloomington, Ind.: Author House, 2004. Haddad, Yvonne Yazbeck. Not Quite American?: The Shaping of Arab and Muslim Identity in the United States. Waco, Tex.: Baylor University Press, 2004. Nordquist, Joan. Arab and Muslim Americans of Middle Eastern Origin: Social and Political Aspects: A Bibliography. Santa Cruz, Calif.: Reference and Research Services, 2003. Orfalea, Gregory. The Arab Americans: A Quest for Their History and Culture. Northampton, Mass.: Olive Branch Press, 2005. See Also Arab American intergroup relations; Arab immigrants; Israeli immigrants; Jews and Arab Americans; Middle Eastern immigrant families; Muslims. |
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