essay

Reconstituting a Lebanese village society in a Canadian city

arabic speaking communities in american citiesStaten Island, N. Y. • Published In 1974 • Pages: 39-52

By: Sweet, Louise Elizabeth.

Abstract
Based on her field work in rural Lebanon (1964-1965, 1969-1970) and participant observation of a picnic, a community gathering, and a visit among Arab-Canadians at an airport in Edmonton, Alberta, Sweet argues that Lebanese rural customs and etiquette continue to structure the behavior surrounding group encounters in Canada. What she calls 'pre-industrial bonds' survive in the immigrant community to affect social behavior in spite of acculturation. The reason for this, she argues, is because of the corporate individualism and class system of Canada which 'downgrades those without proper Canadian British language, or skills, or education, or economic resources, and so inhibits movement out of the lowest levels of the working class, invites no one to give up his close family and clan life for the industrial alternatives: vagrancy and welfare. (p. 50)'
Subjects
External migration
History and culture change
Status, role, and prestige
Accumulation of wealth
Visiting and hospitality
Etiquette
Community structure
culture
Arab Canadians
HRAF PubDate
1999
Region
North America
Sub Region
Regional, Ethnic and Diaspora Cultures
Document Type
essay
Evaluation
Creator Type
Ethnologist
Document Rating
4: Excellent Secondary Data
5: Excellent Primary Data
Analyst
Ian Skoggard ; 1998
Field Date
1966-1972
Coverage Date
1966-1972
Coverage Place
Edmonton, Alberta
Notes
Louise E. Sweet
Includes bibliographical references (p. 52)
LCCN
73088936
LCSH
Arabs--Canada