"They're Not Real Americans": Nationalism and Justice for Arab Americans

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2004-04-09
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Abstract
A qualitative study investigated the construction of national identity and the exclusion of Arab Americans from the justice considerations of other citizens. Data were collected from 47 participants between July and August, 2003, during the U. S.-led war in Iraq. Three questions were used to explore national identity: Responses to these questions suggested that while some participants constructed their identities in ways that reflected inclusiveness and a symbolic attachment to principles of democracy and benevolence, the meaning of being an American for other participants reflected adversarial stances toward other national groups and beliefs in the national superiority of the United States. In addition, some participants, notably those with multiple salient social identities, appeared more ambivalent or at times conflicted about the meaning of their national identity. The second part of this research examined participants' beliefs about whether Arab Americans are entitled to justice. Explicit examples of prejudice against non-native born U. S. citizens and/or ethnic and religious minorities were found in about one-third of participants.
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Thesis (M.A.)--Indiana University South Bend, 2004.
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Group identity--United States, Arab Americans--Public opinion
Citation
Coryn, C.L. (2004) "They're Not Real Americans": Nationalism and Justice for Arab Americans (Unpublished master's thesis) Indiana University South Bend, South Bend, Indiana.
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