VTMBH Article: Body
In May 2002, the Arab American Institute Foundation (AAIF) commissioned a survey of
Arab American attitudes and behavior since September 11th. The May survey is compared to a similar poll commissioned by AAIF in October 2001, in the immediate aftermath of the terror attacks. On some variables a three-way comparison is made, including findings from a survey of Arab American attitudes taken in 2000.
The findings of the May 2002 survey reveal that Arab Americans concern about how the aftermath of September 11th has affected their community has increased, but they continue to maintain strong attachments to their ethnic identity and pride.
Among the findings:
Nearly one in three Arab Americans (30 percent) say they have personally experienced discrimination in the past because of their ethnicity, nearly identical to the October 2001 survey. Forty percent of those surveyed know someone who was discriminated against since September 11th. Roughly one-fifth of respondents reported discrimination against themselves. Those who are young, Muslim and/or foreign- born are more likely to have experienced discrimination.
Compared to October 2001, Arab Americans feel discrimination since September 11th is more prevalent at work (31 percent), less at school (21 percent), and about the same among neighbors and friends (25 percent); discrimination, they say, is more likely to happen in other places (20 percent) than it did last year.
Seventy-eight percent of Arab Americans feel there has been more profiling of Arab Americans since September 11th. About two-thirds of those surveyed expressed concern about the long term effects of discrimination.
Two in five respondents feel the events of September 11th have impacted the public display of their heritage, while nearly three-quarters (73 percent) say their pride in being Arab American has not changed, similar to results reported in 2001.
Since September 11th, about two-fifths of respondents say they are more likely to speak to their friends and acquaintances about events in the Middle East, while another 43 percent were doing so to the same degree as before. Only 14 percent indicated they were less likely to engage in public discussion now. Roughly one in five who speak Arabic say they feel less comfortable speaking Arabic in public.
When asked if they were reassured by President Bush's comments and conduct since the September 11th attacks, 54 percent of Arab Americans say they are reassured, while 35 percent say they are not reassured. This ratio is down sharply from the results of the October 2001 poll, when 90 percent of Arab Americans surveyed said they were reassured by the president's response.
Eight out of ten Arab Americans surveyed said they responded to September 11th by either contributing to a victims' fund, displaying a flag, or donating blood.
Overall, 89 percent of Arab Americans professed to be either extremely or very proud of their ethnicity. This is virtually the same as the percentage (90 percent) who claimed strong attachment in a January 2000 survey, and up slightly from the 87 percent recorded in the October 2001 poll.
<b>Demographics and Characteristics of Sample</b>
Three-fourths of those surveyed were born in the United States and 89 percent hold American citizenship. Eighty-one percent speak English at home. Sixty-three percent reported a Christian affiliation, 24 percent Muslim, and 13 percent of other or no religious affiliation (Figure 1).
Occupational breakdowns are similar to census-based results, with 36 percent reporting some form of professional or managerial job. Able to ask even more detail than available in the census, the survey revealed that 10 percent of the respondents are teachers and 7 percent are homemakers.
Twenty-two percent of those surveyed reported membership in a union, and 34 percent own or operate a business. Close to two out of three respondents reported household income in excess of $50,000, compared to 16 percent with annual incomes under $25,000.
The ZI/AAIF survey probed the issue of primary self-identification by asking, How are you most likely to describe yourself? By nearly a two-to-one margin, more respondents describe themselves as Arab American (39 percent) than by their country of origin (21 percent). Approximately one in eight (12 percent) describe themselves as both Arab American and by country of origin. One in four uses neither choice to describe themselves. Those who were born in the United States (36 percent) are less likely than those born elsewhere (49 percent) to describe themselves as Arab Americans. Half of American citizens not born in the United States (51 percent) describe themselves as Arab American, while more than two in five permanent residents (44 percent) refer to themselves by their country of origin.
To read the complete survey report compiled by the Arab American Institute, please go to: http://www.aaiusa.org/PDF/poll%20report.pdf.
Arab American attitudes and behavior since September 11th. The May survey is compared to a similar poll commissioned by AAIF in October 2001, in the immediate aftermath of the terror attacks. On some variables a three-way comparison is made, including findings from a survey of Arab American attitudes taken in 2000.
The findings of the May 2002 survey reveal that Arab Americans concern about how the aftermath of September 11th has affected their community has increased, but they continue to maintain strong attachments to their ethnic identity and pride.
Among the findings:
Nearly one in three Arab Americans (30 percent) say they have personally experienced discrimination in the past because of their ethnicity, nearly identical to the October 2001 survey. Forty percent of those surveyed know someone who was discriminated against since September 11th. Roughly one-fifth of respondents reported discrimination against themselves. Those who are young, Muslim and/or foreign- born are more likely to have experienced discrimination.
Compared to October 2001, Arab Americans feel discrimination since September 11th is more prevalent at work (31 percent), less at school (21 percent), and about the same among neighbors and friends (25 percent); discrimination, they say, is more likely to happen in other places (20 percent) than it did last year.
Seventy-eight percent of Arab Americans feel there has been more profiling of Arab Americans since September 11th. About two-thirds of those surveyed expressed concern about the long term effects of discrimination.
Two in five respondents feel the events of September 11th have impacted the public display of their heritage, while nearly three-quarters (73 percent) say their pride in being Arab American has not changed, similar to results reported in 2001.
Since September 11th, about two-fifths of respondents say they are more likely to speak to their friends and acquaintances about events in the Middle East, while another 43 percent were doing so to the same degree as before. Only 14 percent indicated they were less likely to engage in public discussion now. Roughly one in five who speak Arabic say they feel less comfortable speaking Arabic in public.
When asked if they were reassured by President Bush's comments and conduct since the September 11th attacks, 54 percent of Arab Americans say they are reassured, while 35 percent say they are not reassured. This ratio is down sharply from the results of the October 2001 poll, when 90 percent of Arab Americans surveyed said they were reassured by the president's response.
Eight out of ten Arab Americans surveyed said they responded to September 11th by either contributing to a victims' fund, displaying a flag, or donating blood.
Overall, 89 percent of Arab Americans professed to be either extremely or very proud of their ethnicity. This is virtually the same as the percentage (90 percent) who claimed strong attachment in a January 2000 survey, and up slightly from the 87 percent recorded in the October 2001 poll.
<b>Demographics and Characteristics of Sample</b>
Three-fourths of those surveyed were born in the United States and 89 percent hold American citizenship. Eighty-one percent speak English at home. Sixty-three percent reported a Christian affiliation, 24 percent Muslim, and 13 percent of other or no religious affiliation (Figure 1).
Occupational breakdowns are similar to census-based results, with 36 percent reporting some form of professional or managerial job. Able to ask even more detail than available in the census, the survey revealed that 10 percent of the respondents are teachers and 7 percent are homemakers.
Twenty-two percent of those surveyed reported membership in a union, and 34 percent own or operate a business. Close to two out of three respondents reported household income in excess of $50,000, compared to 16 percent with annual incomes under $25,000.
The ZI/AAIF survey probed the issue of primary self-identification by asking, How are you most likely to describe yourself? By nearly a two-to-one margin, more respondents describe themselves as Arab American (39 percent) than by their country of origin (21 percent). Approximately one in eight (12 percent) describe themselves as both Arab American and by country of origin. One in four uses neither choice to describe themselves. Those who were born in the United States (36 percent) are less likely than those born elsewhere (49 percent) to describe themselves as Arab Americans. Half of American citizens not born in the United States (51 percent) describe themselves as Arab American, while more than two in five permanent residents (44 percent) refer to themselves by their country of origin.
To read the complete survey report compiled by the Arab American Institute, please go to: http://www.aaiusa.org/PDF/poll%20report.pdf.