Using in-depth interviews of Muslim American women, Dr. Read and her colleague find that those who wear veils and those who do not disagree on the symbolism and purpose of the garment, but both groups are influenced by their social context and experiences, and both show empathy for women who think differently.
Category Archives: Arab & Muslim Intergrations in The U.S.
Dr. Read finds that Arab American women’s beliefs about gender roles hinge largely on how religious they are and how strongly they are tied to their Arab background. When adjusted for these factors, the data did not show a significant difference in traditionalism between Muslims and Christians.
In this study, Read and her colleague find that in religious Arab American communities, where women tend to have high education levels but low employment rates, women’s education is seen as a resource for their families and community rather than preparation for a career.