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Understanding Arab-American Adolescents’ Experiences with Discrimination: a Phenomenological Approach

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Understanding Arab-American Adolescents’ Experiences with Discrimination: a Phenomenological Approach UNDERSTANDING ARAB-AMERICAN ADOLESCENTS’ EXPERIENCES WITH DISCRIMINATION: A PHENOMENOLOGICAL APPROACH By Danielle Balaghi A DISSERTATION Submitted to Michigan State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of School Psychology—Doctor of Philosophy 2018 ABSTRACT UNDERSTANDING ARAB-AMERICAN ADOLESCENTS’ EXPERIENCES WITH DISCRIMINATION: A PHENOMENOLOGICAL APPROACH By Danielle Balaghi Arab-Americans are a vastly understudied group in the social sciences. Of the extant research, there is some evidence that racial minority individuals, such as Arab-Americans, tend to have poorer psychological well-being than European Americans (Amin, 2000). Poor psychological well-being in racial minority individuals has been linked to societal risk factors, such as perceived discrimination (Umana-Taylor, 2004). This is especially relevant for Arab- Americans, who have experienced a dramatic increase in discriminatory actions since September 11, 2011 (Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, 2008). There is some evidence to suggest, however, that social context matters, such as living in communities having a large population of one’s racial group. Ethnically dense communities have been shown to protect members of racial minority groups from experiencing and perceiving discrimination, ultimately leading to better well-being. Although Arab-Americans living in racial communities have unique experiences, being an Arab-American (ArAm) adolescent, may pose additional challenges that could affect their experiences with and responses to discrimination. This is an area however, that has received limited attention and little is known about their experiences. The study used resiliency theory (RR) and critical race theory (CRT) as conceptual frameworks to study ArAm adolescents who live in a racial community and how their experiences with and responses to perceived discrimination relate to their well-being. The current study will examine the following questions: How do Arab-American adolescents experience discrimination?; How does perceived discrimination relate to their well-being?; How do Arab-American adolescents respond to their experiences with discrimination?; And how do Arab-American adolescents describe and understand their lived experiences with discrimination in communities where the majority of the population is Arab-American? Participants were 10 female and male Arab-American youth ages 13-17 and were recruited using purposive sampling. Data were collected using semi-structured individual interviews with adolescents and parents. In addition, the adolescents kept an online journal. The data were analyzed using interpretive phenomenological analysis, guided by RR theory and CRT. Validity was assessed via member checks and triangulation of data using multiple participants and sources. With the growing population of Arab-Americans in the United States, psychologists are more likely to encounter these youths in schools. It is thus, vital, that psychologists understand how Arab-American adolescents experience and respond to perceived discrimination and the role of their community in their well-being. Keywords: Arab-American Adolescents, Perceived Discrimination, Psychological Well-being, Ethnic Enclaves, Phenomenology To all the teachers that have never wavered in their belief in me, academically and personally, I owe you more than I can ever express in words. Thank you for showing me that my voice is valued when I thought it was not. Thank you for providing me that megaphone, allowing my voice to be heard. Thank you for helping me believe in my potential. May your commitment to education stay staunch, may your fervor continue to light the flame of creativity, and may your conviction for students stand strong in the face of adversity. This dissertation is for you. iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS First, I want to say thank you to all ten participants and their parents for opening their homes and hearts to me. Without your commitment, courage, and candor this dissertation would not exist. You have taught me so much throughout this process about my own culture and myself as a researcher and person; for that, I will be forever grateful. To the community leaders, Dr. Shady Shebak and Mr. Kamal Charara, thank you for opening doors for me in the community and believing in the importance of my work and allowing me to be part of the Arab- American community. To my advisor and chair of my dissertation, Dr. Evelyn Oka: thank you for standing in my corner throughout all these years, your steadfast patience and support provided me an opportunity to come into my own. Thank you for providing the feedback that I needed and pushing me to think about the “forest for the trees,” which has helped me become the professional I am today. To my dissertation committee, Dr. Dorinda Carter Andrews, Dr. Terry Flennaugh, and Dr. Jodene Fine, thank you for believing in the importance of my work. Your expertise, critical feedback, and passion for research helped me find confidence in my research skills, and pushed my perspectives and understanding on society, culture, and mental health. To my sisters, thank you for adding levity in my life, making me midnight pancakes, and allowing me a place to just breathe. Thank you to my parents for the bravery and boldness you embody as you sacrificed and risked your life coming to the United States for a chance of a better life for all of us. The sacrifices you have made throughout the years that have helped me pursue my education; your support, diligence, and generosity have not gone unnoticed. To my bulldog in my corner, Jane (Peggy) Sheldon, I’m not sure where I would be without your fervor, v persistence, and guidance. Even when I didn’t believe in myself, thank you for your unwavering belief in me throughout these years. To my friends, thank you for the adventures, laughter, and support that carried me throughout the stress of graduate school. This dissertation was funded in part, by the Michigan State University Graduate School Research Enhancement Fellowship and the Graduate School Dissertation Completion Fellowship as well as the College of Education Research Practicum/Dissertation Development Fellowship. vi TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF TABLES ...................................................................................................................... x CHAPTER I: INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................... 1 Conceptual and Analytical Frameworks ......................................................................... 4 Resiliency Theory ................................................................................................ 4 Critical Race Theory ............................................................................................ 6 Purpose of the Study ..................................................................................................... 13 CHAPTER II: BACKGROUND TO ARAB-AMERICAN CULTURE ..................................... 15 Demographics ............................................................................................................... 15 Values ........................................................................................................................... 16 Religion ........................................................................................................................ 17 Family ........................................................................................................................... 18 CHAPTER III: LITERATURE REVIEW ................................................................................. 23 Conceptualizations of Psychological Well-being ........................................................... 23 Well-being in Arab-Americans .......................................................................... 24 Limitations of Conceptualizations of Well-being ............................................... 26 Perceived Discrimination............................................................................................... 27 Racial Minority Individuals’ Perceived Discrimination ...................................... 29 Perceived Discrimination and Arab-Americans Post 9/11 .................................. 34 Perceived Discrimination and Psychological Well-Being ................................... 38 Perceived Discrimination and Psychological Well-Being in Arab-Americans..... 40 Intervening Conditions Between Perceived Discrimination and Well-Being in Arab-Americans................................................................................................. 41 Ethnic Enclaves, Well-being, and Perceived Discrimination .............................. 42 Adaptive and Maladaptive Responses to Discrimination ................................................ 48 Current Research Study and Research Questions ........................................................... 51 CHAPTER IV: METHODS ...................................................................................................... 53 Methodological Approach ............................................................................................. 53 Conceptual Frameworks’ Fit with Phenomenology ............................................ 54 Setting ............................................................................................................... 55 Participants ........................................................................................................ 55 Sampling and
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