Palestinian-American Muslim women: living on the margins of two worlds

Cainkar, Louise

essay

Palestinian-American Muslim women: living on the margins of two worlds

muslim families in north america • Edmonton, Alta., Canada • Published In 1991 • Pages: 282-308, 333-357

By: Cainkar, Louise.

Abstract
This is a study of the difficult experience of growing up female for Palestinian-American women, whose lives were severely constrained by traditional sexual mores and gender ideals. It is based on participant observation, informal interviews, and formal open-ended life history interviews with 22 Palestinian-American women born between 1943 and 1961. Beginning with grade school, Palestinian-American women have had to contend with racial prejudice in school and gender inequality in the home, where they had to serve on their brothers. As teenagers their lives were even more constricted by traditional proscriptions on sexual behavior, to the point where they had to sever their relationship with their non-Arab girlfriends. As young adults they were forced into arranged marriages. College for some of the women offerred a respite and an opportunity to refashion their ethnic and gender identities, but at the cost of losing their marital appeal to tradition-bound Palestine-American men. Cainkar argues that the experience of Palestine-American women compared to Palestine women has been one of greater gender inequality, because the generally freer American society was closed to women, whereas men were free to participate in it.

Gender status

Ethnic stratification

Regulation of marriage

Arranging a marriage

Status of adolescents

Adolescent activities

Students

Arab Americans

HRAF PubDate

1999

Region

North America