Adaptation
to the Canadian Society
The Arab Canadians may be divided into three groups in accordance with
their degree of adaptation;
Integrationists
This group includes those who prefer to be identified as Canadians. Sometimes
they adopt Canadian names and speak French or English at all times.
They might isolate themselves from other Canadian Arabs and choose
Canadian friends, especially those who are married to Canadians. m
This group of Arab Canadians is the smallest.
Isolationist
These individuals prefer to live in areas with high concentration of
other Arab speaking residents and with services catering to their specific
cultural needs. They speak Arabic at all times in their homes and with
their friends. They do not feel that they need to learn English or French.
They go to shops and services where Arabic is spoken. In some communities
Arabic newspapers provide them with news and information. Their children
often go to private Arabic schools. They maintain their traditional practices
inside and outside of their homes. Most of the recent newcomers who have
been forced to leave their homes due to wars, political conflicts and
poverty belong to this group.
This group of Arab Canadians is the second largest of the three groups.
Reconcilers
Members of this Arab Canadians group have chosen to combine the best
of both the Arabic and Canadian cultures in their lives. They are usually
well educated, open minded and rationalist. They don not fear the challenges
poised by the new society regarding values, culture or identity. They
are able to negotiate with their culture of origin and the new culture
in both theoretical and practical terms.
This group of Arab Canadians is the largest of the three groups.
Problems in Integration
•
Many Arab Canadians fall between these three groups. There are many dynamic
forces that immigrants must confront. The greatest is the cultural differences
that revolve around issues such as the structure of the family, sex,
dating, homosexuality and single parent families. They find the differences
to their traditions and culture intimidating, disturbing and difficult
to cope with.
Parents find themselves challenged when questioned by their children
with respect to these differences. Many feel their authority is threatened
and in response impose their traditions on their children more rigorously
than if they would in their countries of origin.
Arab Canadian children and youth suffer not only from the common peer
pressure other Canadian children experience, but in addition they have
to cope with cultural differences and prejudices of race and colour.
Seniors in their country of origin are normally cared for by their family
with support from the extended family. In Canada that is not easily done
and they find themselves in institutions for care. This causes their
children a great deal of distress and guilt.
•
Many Arab professionals and highly skilled individuals are unable to
find work commensurate with their qualifications due to lack of Canadian
experience or because their credentials are not recognized by the licensing
authorities.
They are forced to perform menial work to survive. Unemployed or underemployed
and unable to provide for the basic needs of the family, results in loss
of self esteem, diminished authority in the family. Saving face is extremely
important in the Middle Eastern culture, consequently many families can't
cope and return to their country of origin to survive economically and
regain self esteem.
• The Western media portrayal of Arabs in stereotypical ways had
profound negative effects on Arabs and on their integration process.
Former CBS news consultant, scholar and author Jack Shaheen (PhD)
studied this issue and demonstrated the harmful effects stereotyping
perpetuated in all channels of the media (read his
book Real Bad Arabs).
He noted that continuous harmful stereotyping of Arabs denigrates people,
narrows vision and blur reality. He noted that portrayal of Arabs is
limited to three caricatures; bombers, belly dancers, billionaires. Hollywood
uses these three repeatedly causing huge misconceptions and misrepresentations
of Arabs.
Factors Facilitating Integration
•
The Canadian multicultural environment provides a warm and gracious welcome
for the new immigrants. With the social, educational and health benefits
provided by the government, immigrants begin their new life with a sense
of security and optimistic look to their future.
Instruction of English or French is provided to those who need it at
no expense. Settlement programs help immigrants to find housing and jobs.
Translation and interpretation services are offered at no expense to
those in need.
• Plights to immigrants whose credentials are not recognized,
or who can't work due to lack of Canadian experience are appreciated
and steps to resolve this problem are under way. Prospective immigrants
on the other hand should be informed before leaving their countries to
make the additional preparations that facilitate their work in their
fields when they arrive.
• Families of new immigrants should also be informed of the Canadian
culture, rearing practices of children and the Canadian family law before
arrival to Canada.
