Re-Shaping Arab American Cultural Identity in Diaspora in Ward’s “How We Are Bound” and Darraj’s “The New World”

Authors : Lamia Khalil HAMMAD

Pages : 285-295

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Publication Date : 2014-12-01

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :This paper explores two short stories written by two Arab American women writers who expose the varied experiences and reactions of Arab Americans in diaspora. Patricia Ward`s “How We Are Bound” insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(1996); and Susan Darraj`s “The New World” insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(2004); are two stories that show how challenges such as assimilation, generational differences, cultural diversity, and identity questioning are depicted and met by the Arab American communities. These challenges are approached by relying on Homi Bhabha and Stuart Hall, as a theoretical framework. This paper argues that the experiences and issues of Arab immigrants varied from one ethnic community to another-Lebanese American and Palestinian American-yet they shared the struggles of adapting and embracing a new shape identity due to their need to survive and live in peace.
Keywords : Arab American immigrants, diaspora, assimilation, alienation, cultural diversity, identity crisis