1. Middle-EasternEmployees in the U.S. WorkforceThe A-Team: Bandana Ahuja Lucia Agnese Kerry AmermanFrank Acevedo Ashley Aberi

2. History of Middle-EasternImmigrants No one knows for certain who the first Arabicimmigrants in the United States were or wherethey settled. There are rich records that suggest MuslimAfrican-American slaves brought here, and lateron supporters along the Route to Freedom in theearlier half of the 1800s. 3. Citizenship Status &Re-Opening the Gates The first wave of Arab immigration to the UnitedStates ended in 1924 with the passage of theNational Origins Act. Since its repeal in 1965, hundreds of thousandsof Arab immigrants have come to the UnitedStates, many of them Muslim, mainly now fromEgypt, Algeria, Morocco, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon,Tunisia, Libya, Saudi Arabia, and the Palestinianareas. 4. Statistics about the Middle Eastern Population In 2000, 49 percent had at least aBachelorsdegree, compared to 29percent of natives. The number of immigrants from the Middle Easthas grown more than seven-fold, from fewer than200,000 in 1970 to nearly 1.5 million in 2000. 5. Statistics about the MiddleEastern Population (continued) Over the past decade, the fastest-growingimmigrant groups from the Middle East andNorth Africa have beenSaudis, Yemenis, Sudanese, and Iraqis. In October 2001, the Department of State 6. Laws/Legislations Coveringthe Middle Eastern Population Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, prohibitsan employer from firing, refusing to hire, ordisciplining a woman because of religiouspractices like hijab, unless the employer can showthat it offered a "reasonable accommodation" orthat it could not offer such an accommodationwithout incurring an "undue hardship." 7. Laws/Legislations (continued) The 1st and 14th Amendments of the U.S.Constitution bar federal/state governments frommaking laws or rules that specifically prohibitwomen from practicing hijab. The Equal Employment OpportunityCommission (EEOC) specifically states thatrefusing to hire someone because of a concernthat customers or co-workers may be"uncomfortable" with hijab is illegal. 8. Common Stereotypes &Misperceptions Not all Arabs are Muslim (about 10% of Arabsare Christian). Most Muslims are not Arabs (only about 18% ofMuslims 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 PhiladelphiaInquirer editorial cartoonist Tony Auth. It presents astereotypical view of Arabs and Muslims that is still held bymany people in the United States. 10. Stereotypes about Middle EasternMuslim Women:All Muslim women are oppressed, subservient,and silent REALITY:Muslim women are active participants in theirfamilies and their societies. Of course, many Muslim womenface difficulties in their lives, because of poverty, lack ofeducation, cultural restrictions, war, or domestic or socialproblems. Some of these may be linked to local practice ofIslam; many are not connected specifically to religion and areproblems that are shared with other women worldwide 11. Muslim women who wear the hijabMiddle Eastern Women sometimes face infringements on their rights-Many of them have been harassed, denied access topublic places, fired from their job, and faced otherdiscrimination from wearing their hijab.-Because of their visibility, Muslim women whowear the hijab have been targets for harassmentand more subject to discrimination especiallyafter September 11, 2001. 12. Middle Eastern WomenIn the workplace: Muslim women have been prohibited from wearing the hijabwhile working as police officers among other occupations;they have been fired for refusing to remove their hijab. Teachers in public schools are prevented from wearingreligious garments.In public places: Muslim women have been denied the right to enter publicbuildings, such as malls, and public pools, unless they submitto being searched by guards or agree to remove their headcoverings. 13. Middle EasternWomen 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 drivers license: Muslim women have been denied getting a drivers license and passports unless they remove their hijab for the photograph. 14. Rules! Pick a category Each team can answer onlyone question Make sure you answer thequestion in Jeopardy form(What is...) 15. HISTORY IDENTIFIABILITY LAWS STEREOTYPES