Arab American Adolescents’ Responses to Perceived Discrimination: A Phenomenological Study

Abstract

<!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face{font-family:"Cambria Math";panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;mso-font-charset:0;mso-generic-font-family:roman;mso-font-pitch:variable;mso-font-signature:-536870145 1107305727 0 0 415 0;}@font-face{font-family:Times;panose-1:2 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0;mso-font-charset:0;mso-generic-font-family:auto;mso-font-pitch:variable;mso-font-signature:-536870145 1342185562 0 0 415 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal{mso-style-unhide:no;mso-style-qformat:yes;mso-style-parent:"";margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;mso-pagination:widow-orphan;font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";}.MsoChpDefault{mso-style-type:export-only;mso-default-props:yes;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}size:8.5in 11.0in;margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;mso-header-margin:.5in;mso-footer-margin:.5in;mso-paper-source:0;}div.WordSection1{page:WordSection1;}Racial discrimination is on the rise in the United States. Arab AmericanMuslims is one group that has experienced an increase in perceived racialdiscrimination. Even less is known about Arab American Muslim Adolescents experiencesof coping when faced with racial discrimination.  This study aims to highlight the livedexperiences of Arab American adolescents’ perceived racial discrimination as itrelates to their coping experiences. Therewere 10 (female=5; male=5) Arab American youth ages 13-17 and identifiedas Muslim. Participants were recruited using purposive sampling. Using aphenomenological approach, data were collected using semi-structured individualinterviews and online journals. Validity was assessed via member checks andtriangulation of data using multiple participants and sources.  The data were analyzed using interpretivephenomenological analysis, guided by Risk and Resilience theory and CriticalRace Theory. Results highlighted three positive and three negative waysparticipants experienced coping to perceived racial discrimination.Implicationsof this study can aid psychologists in promoting positive responses to racialdiscrimination while also helping students recognize negative responses.Understanding the way an adolescent responds provides better insight into theirpsychological well-being.   

“Hope for a better tomorrow”: Using photovoice to understand how Arab adolescents enact critical consciousness

“…While this period is challenging for many, it can be particularly challenging for Arab adolescents who are from, or whose parents are from, conflict‐affected countries in the MENA region. Many of these adolescents have experienced the loss of their home country, face discrimination and bullying in the United States, and must navigate a different cultural context (Ahmed et al, 2022; Albdour, El‐Masri et al, 2020; Albdour et al, 2019; Albdour, Hong et al, 2020; Balaghi et al, 2021; Hashem et al, 2020; Seff et al, 2021). The accumulation of adversities and stressors across Arab adolescents' premigration, transmigration, and postmigration experiences can compromise their mental health and psychosocial well‐being (Ahmed et al, 2022; Albdour et al, 2019; Bronstein & Montgomery, 2011; Hashem et al, 2020).…”

“…Nevertheless, many adolescents from conflict affected regions manage to cope with or overcome these challenges, drawing upon a range of protective factors that increase their resiliency (Balaghi et al, 2021;Hashem et al, 2020;Pieloch et al, 2016;Stark et al, 2022).…”

“…If left unaddressed, these risks can hinder adolescents' problem‐solving skills, relationships, and identity formation, thereby threatening their overall development and well‐being (Bennouna et al, 2019; Sawyer et al, 2012). Nevertheless, many adolescents from conflict affected regions manage to cope with or overcome these challenges, drawing upon a range of protective factors that increase their resiliency (Balaghi et al, 2021; Hashem et al, 2020; Pieloch et al, 2016; Stark et al, 2022).…”

The role of ethnic enclaves in Arab American Muslim adolescent perceived discrimination

“…This conflation is due to the misperception of Arab Americans being homogenous (Amer & Hovey, 2007; Balaghi, Oka, & Andrews, 2021). Arab Americans have rich histories and rich cultures that have been made invisible by the US census categorizing them as White (Balaghi et al, 2021). Arab Americans invisibility continues to perpetuate misunderstandings about the ethnic group and limits our understanding of how adverse experiences, such as perceived discrimination, affect their daily lived experiences in the United States.…”

“…This means that people often equate ‘Arab’ with ‘Muslim’. This conflation is due to the misperception of Arab Americans being homogenous (Amer & Hovey, 2007; Balaghi, Oka, & Andrews, 2021). Arab Americans have rich histories and rich cultures that have been made invisible by the US census categorizing them as White (Balaghi et al, 2021).…”