Growing Up Sexually

IES: USA eHRAF

NORTH AMERICAN ARABS (USA)

Index → Americas → North-America Non-Natives→ North American Arabs

Sources state the changing of courtship routines to American form, including relaxation of familial mate selection, interracial avoidance and escortage (Elkholy, 1966; Cainkar, 1991:p305)^{^[1]}^[167].

Abu-Laban (1980)^{^[2]}^[168]:

“For Canadians of Arab origin, both Christians and Muslims, the traditional ethnic pattern of mate selection stands in sharp contrast to the usual Canadian practices. For example, in Arab families, the power and influence of the larger family unit is dramatized through the continued existence of the institution of arranged marriage. Usually the choice of spouse is not left to the whims of individual decision or romantic love, but instead is a decision made (sometimes arbitrarily) by parents and other senior family members, particularly males. Traditionally, prospective partners would not have been consulted regarding their own preferences. For a young woman to have indicated a preference, or even worse an attraction, to a particular man, would have been a violation of the modesty code which demanded strict segregation of the unmarried female from either knowledge of or observation by eligible males. Such seclusion, previously symbolized by the veil, particularly among Muslims, meant that dating and courtship, as known in Canada, were virtually non-existent”.

Jabbra (1991)^{^[3]}^[169] notes the same:

“Despite the continued importance of the household as an agency of socialization for children, it takes its place alongside other agencies: schools, peer groups, and the mass media. Conflicts emerge between children (particularly daughters) and parents over issues of symbolic and material importance: dating, courtship, and marriage; autonomy and independence”.

Janssen, D. F., Growing Up Sexually. VolumeI. World Reference Atlas. 0.2 ed. 2004. Berlin: Magnus Hirschfeld Archive for Sexology

Last revised: Sept 2004