The Somali Experience.
Somalia is a country that is located in the horn of Africa. Geographically it neighbors Kenya, Ethiopia and the Indian Ocean. Somalia is a country that is mostly habited by the Somalis popularly identified as Somalia Somalis in order to differentiate them from their Kenyan counterparts. The Somali are a people with a complex but definite culture. They fully ascribe to the Muslim religion almost in its entirety. They are almost extremists when it comes to practicing their religion and actually have dire consequences for any person or people who show any sort of disrespect to the Muslim religion. Somali by language is a Cushitic branch of the Afro-Asiatic language family.
Just to give a brief information about the indigenous Somali culture, the Somali are a people with a rich musical heritage and are known to have produced many great artists in the entertainment world. They are relatively well recognized and represented in the music industry. The Somali are extremists when it comes to their cultures. It is important to note that the Somalis have a society that is largely patrilineal and one that initially didn’t give much importance to the role of women in the society. The men in the Somali community are largely favored by the structure of the society and women are therefore mostly mutant members. The women were only there to be seen and not to be heard. However it is important to note that the state of things with regards to the role of women in the Somali society is rapidly changing with more respect being given to them and their role in the society. Marriage in the Somali society are also mostly endogamous with marriage within the community highly encouraged. It also worth noting the dressing code of the Somali. Men from the Somali community under normal circumstances dress in macawis which are garments worn around the waist. Their women on the other hand adorn guntiino which is a plain white fabric.
The official language in Somalia is actually Somali. They however also use Arabic and sometimes even English though it is not as common as Somali and Arabic. The use of Somali as a national language means that most of the Somali people are not conversant with most of the languages that are used internationally such as English and French.Due to the fact that they are unable to speak or properly understand the most frequently used languages on the international front, the Somali normally have difficulties communicating with people from other regions.
Somali are one of the youngest immigrants into the United States going by the year in which they started arriving. Being the youngest arrivals, they are therefore also the least adopted to the system and society of the United States. This could also mean that they are the group that experiences the most difficulties with regards to general life in the United States.
Most Somalis experience life in the united states as being complex and super advanced as compared to the life back at home in Somalia. The organization that is found within the United States society is way beyond the imaginations of the Somalis from Somalia. This is because, unlike the United States which has enjoyed relative peace and political stability, Somalia, has been involved in internal conflictswithin the country for over two decades now. The civil wars in the country have gone a long way in destabilizing the economy of the country and as such there is minimal development. Therefore the Somali people view the united states as a more developed state and with much better resources that the ones in their homeland. They look at the united states as a chance to live a normal life in a comfortable environment with minimal interruptions as is the case when they are back home in Somalia. These feeling of safety and comfort make the United States a much better environment than the one at home. The Somali thus experience a way better life in the United States.
The Somalis in the United States also witness a totally different social structure. This is very new to them, for they join a society where both women and men are accorded the same opportunities and respect as the men. This is totally unlike their culture where woman were expected to be ever silent and never given a chance to lead or even assist in any way that showed they had authority.
However, the original citizens of the United States have a different view of the Somali immigrants. As such the Somali are exposed to various challenges in their stay in the states. For instance, due to their low levels of education, it is very difficult for the Somali to find good jobs within the United States. They are treated as a people with lesser abilities. The assumption is that due to their inability to fluently speak English, then they are also not in apposition to do any job efficiently. This can sometimes make the Somalis feel left out.
The Somalis from Somalia also face discrimination and isolation from other Muslim Americans. This is also partly due to their lesser levels of education and financial instability. These Americans therefore view them as misrepresentation of the Muslim society and make them feel unwelcome. The Somalis also find it hard to learn the English language which they actually have to learn if at all they are to survive and adopt to the new society.
Apart the difficulty in finding job, the Somalis also develop problems due to the weather conditions. Unlike their country Somalia which is warm most of the year, the United States has extreme weather conditions such as the winter. Winters are extremely cold and the exact opposite of the climate at home since they border the Indian Ocean.
The Somali also face stigmatization from the rest of Americans. These especial due the September 11 attack. Being Muslims, Somalis are treated as extremists and associated with terrorism. This means that they face a lot of discrimination and hostility from the Americans. They are treated with contempt and sometimes directly blamed for the September 11 attacks on the United States. They are viewed as extremist and unfair owing to their activities. Their cultural practices are mostly seen as backward and uncivilized. Their association with terrorists also makes the locals to think that they are the ones supporting a militant group which is linked Al-Qaeda. Needless to say this leads to discrimination against the Somali and them living in constant fear of isolation.
The culture of the Somali also affect their impact in their workplace. For example being so extreme in their Muslim religion, they sometimes are not able to be fully committed at work. For example having to go for prayers on Friday means that their availability at work for those days will not be possible. Their practices such as the tradition of not shaking hands also destroys their relationship with fellow workmates and as such can develop a feeling of resentment from the fellow workmates. Their eating practices are also detrimental to their relationship with fellow workers. For example the Somali do not eat pork and the meat that they eat has to be prepared in a specific way by fellow Muslim. This can also make relationships at work difficult as some of their beliefs and practices may seem to be meaningless to the other people. Their dressing code can also affect the work that they do. If a Somali is so extreme so that he cannot change into any other clothing and dressing style, then such a person is likely to have problems at work.
The American people also have various stereotypes against the Somali. For example constantly associating the Somali to terrorist activities is a common phenomenon of the people. Even when the Somali leave to go back and help bring peace back to their home, the assumption made by the other people is that they have gone to offer assistance to militant groups with links to the Al Qaeda.
In conclusion the Somali is a community with diverse cultural practices some of which are impacting negatively on their lives outside their home countries. For them to get adjusted to new conditions outside their homeland, the Somali may have to readjust and let go some of their unnecessary cultural practices and beliefs. The Americans also have to learn to be more tolerant. The employers should consider that the Somalis are younger immigrants and therefore will need to be given more time to adjust to the new lifestyle. It will take some time before the Somali community develops to become competitive in the job market. With the improvement on the part of the Somalis with regard to their practices and the tolerance of the American population, the life experience of the Somalis is bound to improve.
References
Abdulahi, D. M. (2009). Culture and Customs of Somalia. New York: Greewood Press.
Afdhere , J. (2010). Civil War in Somalia. Greenwood Press.
Ali, A. S. (2012). Somalia Somali. New York: Greenwood Press.
Laitin, D. (2007). Politics, Language and Thought: the Somali Exxperience. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Ministry of Information and National Guidance, Somalia. (2008). The writing of the Somali Language. Mogadishu: Ministry of Information and national Guidance.
Nurudin, F. (2013). Somali Life Outside Somalia. New York: Greenwood press.
Suldaan, A. (2014). A Somali in America. The New York Monthly, 12-18.
Waberi, A. (2013). Survival for the Somali. London Express, 45-56.
Working in the United States. (2011). Chicago weekly, 12-17.
