Being Arab: Ethnic and Religious Identity Building Among Second Generation Youth in Montreal (McGill-Queen's Studies in Ethnic History. Series Two)

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. Contents Introduction 1 The Arab Presence and Identity in Canada Historical Background of Arab Immigration to Canada National Identity in the Postcolonial Arab World: The Role of Religion A Sociodemographic Profile of Arab Canadians Today 2 Building Ethnic and Religious Identity Deconstructing Ethnic Identity When Religion and Ethnicity Meet Methodological Concerns 3 Ingroup and Outgroup Boundaries: Structural Factors The Role of Prejudice and Discrimination Gender Traditions as Ethnoreligious Identity Markers 4 The Place of Ethnicity in Their Lives The Global Index of Ethnic Identity: A Quantitative Outlook Self-Labelling Patterns Attitudes towards Ethnic Endogamy Cultural Exposure and Practice Ingroup Friendship Parental Commitment to Ethnic Identity Transmission 5 The Place of Religion in Their Lives The Global Index of Religious Identity: A Quantitative Outlook The Importance of Religion in Their Lives Attitudes towards Religious Endogamy Ritual Observance Participation in Religious Social Affairs Concluding Remarks 6 Attitudes toward Gender Traditions Gender Tradition Scale: A Quantitative Look Marital Power Relations Premarital Virginity Premarital Dating Female Virginity and Family Reputation 7 Perceived Prejudice and Discrimination Perceived Negative Stereotyping Self-Experienced Anti-Arab Discrmination A Comparison with France Conclusion Appendices A: Variable and Index Measurement B: Coding of Variables C: Questionnaire D: Interview Question Sheet Notes Bibliography Index A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W 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. Arabs in North America are often perceived to be a monolithic group. This title explores how Muslim and Christian Arab-Canadian youth actually negotiate their ethnic and religious identities. It considers the influence of parental socialization, gender-related traditionalism, and perceived discrimination and stereotyping.