This document discusses the history and current state of Middle Eastern populations in the United States. It provides statistics that show Middle Eastern immigrants have higher education levels than native populations and their numbers have grown significantly since the 1960s. It also outlines laws protecting religious practices like hijab in the workplace and discusses common stereotypes and misperceptions Middle Easterners face, such as the idea that all are Muslim or not truly American. The document aims to provide context around Middle Eastern immigrant experiences.

1. Middle-Eastern
Employees in the
U.S. Workforce
The A-Team:
Bandana Ahuja
Lucia Agnese
Kerry Amerman
Frank Acevedo
Ashley Aberi

2. History of Middle-Eastern
Immigrants
• No one knows for certain who the first Arabic
immigrants in the United States were or where
they settled.
• There are rich records that suggest Muslim
African-American slaves brought here, and later
on supporters along the Route to Freedom in the
earlier half of the 1800s.

3. Citizenship Status &
Re-Opening the Gates
• The first wave of Arab immigration to the United
States ended in 1924 with the passage of the
National Origins Act.
• Since its repeal in 1965, hundreds of thousands
of Arab immigrants have come to the United
States, many of them Muslim, mainly now from
Egypt, Algeria, Morocco, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon,
Tunisia, Libya, Saudi Arabia, and the Palestinian
areas.

4. Statistics about the Middle
Eastern Population
• In 2000, 49 percent had at least aBachelor's
degree, compared to 29percent of natives.
• The number of immigrants from the Middle East
has grown more than seven-fold, from fewer than
200,000 in 1970 to nearly 1.5 million in 2000.

5. Statistics about the Middle
Eastern Population (continued)
• Over the past decade, the fastest-growing
immigrant groups from the Middle East and
North Africa have been
Saudis, Yemenis, Sudanese, and Iraqis.
• In October 2001, the Department of State

6. Laws/Legislations Covering
the Middle Eastern Population
• Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, prohibits
an employer from firing, refusing to hire, or
disciplining a woman because of religious
practices like hijab, unless the employer can show
that it offered a "reasonable accommodation" or
that it could not offer such an accommodation
without incurring an "undue hardship."

7. Laws/Legislations (continued)
• The 1st and 14th Amendments of the U.S.
Constitution bar federal/state governments from
making laws or rules that specifically prohibit
women from practicing hijab.
• The Equal Employment Opportunity
Commission (EEOC) specifically states that
refusing to hire someone because of a concern
that customers or co-workers may be
"uncomfortable" with hijab is illegal.

8. Common Stereotypes &
Misperceptions
• Not all Arabs are Muslim (about 10% of Arabs
are Christian).
• Most Muslims are not Arabs (only about 18% of
Muslims are Arab).
• Muslims are often assumed not to be American,
even when they were born here.
• 9/11 Stereotypes:
o After the 9/11 attacks, Arabs and Muslims
have complained about increased scrutiny and
racial profiling at airports.

9. Stereotypes
• The cartoon above was published in 2002 by Philadelphia
Inquirer editorial cartoonist Tony Auth. It presents a
stereotypical view of Arabs and Muslims that is still held by
many people in the United States.

10. Stereotypes about Middle Eastern
Muslim Women:
All Muslim women are oppressed, subservient,
and silent
• REALITY:Muslim women are active participants in their
families and their societies. Of course, many Muslim women
face difficulties in their lives, because of poverty, lack of
education, cultural restrictions, war, or domestic or social
problems. Some of these may be linked to local practice of
Islam; many are not connected specifically to religion and are
problems that are shared with other women worldwide

11. • Muslim women who wear the hijab
Middle Eastern Women
sometimes face infringements on their
rights
-Many of them have been harassed, denied access to
public places, fired from their job, and faced other
discrimination from wearing their hijab.
-Because of their visibility, Muslim women who
wear the hijab have been targets for harassment
and more subject to discrimination especially
after September 11, 2001.

12. Middle Eastern Women
In the workplace:
• Muslim women have been prohibited from wearing the hijab
while working as police officers among other occupations;
they have been fired for refusing to remove their hijab.
• Teachers in public schools are prevented from wearing
religious garments.
In public places:
• Muslim women have been denied the right to enter public
buildings, such as malls, and public pools, unless they submit
to being searched by guards or agree to remove their head
coverings.

13. Middle Eastern
Women
At school:
• Muslim girls or whose mothers wear a hijab have
been harassed and assaulted, they have also been
prevented from participating in certain
extracurricular activities.
In obtaining driver's license:
• Muslim women have been denied getting a
drivers license and passports unless they remove
their hijab for the photograph.

15. Rules!
• Pick a category
• Each team can answer only
one question
• Make sure you answer the
question in Jeopardy form
(What is...)

16. HISTORY IDENTIFIABILITY LAWS STEREOTYPES