Promoting Muslim Students in Cultural Diversity – the Background
This paper focuses on providing a general background to Muslims in the United States (the ‘U.S’.) Specifically, the reasons that many have chosen to come to the U.S and the various ways in which they have adapted to Western culture. I will provide information about the demographics of Muslims in the U.S and recount personal details of one family in particular who emigrated in 2010 and who were happy to share their reasons for and experiences of emigrating from Iraq.
There are a multitude of reason why people decide to leave the country of their birth and attempt to re-settle in another country, perhaps also taking their children and extended family with them. The reasons range from political (perhaps a lack of religious or political rights in the home country), over-population, no opportunity in terms of education or employment, or failing economies in the home country. Many emigrants are also attracted by better overall conditions of living in a new country, especially in terms of personal freedom and cultural opportunities. Many might also seek to join their relatives who have migrated in recent years.
The number of Muslims in the U.S varies according to the demographic studies and estimates available. Mohamed (2016) cites 3.3 million Muslims of all ages living in the states in 2015. The projected forecast for Muslims in the U.S by 2050 will double, according to his estimate. Mohamed also cites the same difficulties in accurate census as other researchers do, namely that the U.S Census Bureau does not ask questions about religion, so the exact figure is not known. However, there is enough certainty in the numbers to know that Muslims will grow in numbers in the U.S to reach an approximate 8.1 million by 2050. Mohamed (2016) also reports that of the number of immigrants to the U.S, Muslims currently represent approximately 10%. It is also reported that the U.S is home to a very diverse population of Muslims (i.e. those from different countries, ethnicities and backgrounds) and that they are represented in all walks of life (Teaching Tolerance, 2016).
The family to whom I spoke emigrated to the U.S in 2010. They brought with them their two young children, aged 6 and 9 at the time, as well as an elderly relative, all of whom are practicing Muslims from Iran. I asked them specifically about their reasons for leaving Iran. Their primary reason was to gain a better lifestyle and education for their children. They also wanted to seek better employment opportunities because neither of the couple had been able to secure long-term job prospects in their home country. Both are professionals with advanced college degrees. I asked them what their first year of living in the U.S was like and they responded that they had found it quite difficult, the culture shock being the first and foremost difficult aspect to deal with. Employment did not come easily and they had issues with their college degrees being recognized, with one of them having to take up new study.
They told me that, six years later however, life was much improved with both adults working and their children, now 12 and 15, both doing very well at school. They told me that their experience of immigration, in general, had been positive, with very little prejudice encountered. The family was also took pains to point out to me that they felt they had contributed to the local community and U.S society in general. While they were active in their local Muslim community and associated with other Muslims on a regular social basis, they both had a circle of non-Muslim friends and undertook volunteer work, including acting as translators. They felt that their children had been very instrumental in their overall integration into American society due to the numerous school and social events.
The discussion with the family seems largely to be reflective of the experiences of others in similar situations and also supports reported accounts of the ‘true picture’ about immigration. As Griswold (2002) points out, the U.S is comprised of a nation of immigrants who “have kept our country demographically young, enriched our culture and added to our productive capacity as a nation, enhancing our influence in the world.” This statement would also seem to support the experiences of the family I spoke with. The family continue to contribute to the local economy because they are employed, pay taxes and contribute their time and skills on a voluntary basis. In that sense, they are no “drain” on American society as is often the presumption of immigrants. As Griswold (2002) points out, the average immigrant and his or her offspring pay more taxes than they collect in government services and since the 1996 Welfare Reform Act, the use of welfare by immigrants has declined. These are particularly important points in light of the current U.S election race which has pushed the immigration issue, particularly of Muslims, into the spotlight.
Immigrants have different experiences of adapting to the new country. The stages of ‘culture shock’ are well-recognized – the honeymoon stage, the frustration stage, the adjustment stage and the acceptance stage (Global Perspectives, 2016). Each person’s experience of the stages will be different and of varying duration. The family I spoke with had reached, in my opinion, the ‘acceptance stage.’ Their attitude and effort towards settling in to their new country had clearly helped them to reach this. Their willingness to engage with other people positively contributed to their cultural transition as a family, but they continued to maintain their cultural roots. Other observations I have made of immigrants around me seems to indicate that those who make an effort through learning English, associating with local people and acknowledging that feeling homesick or frustrated are part of the overall experience of immigration. As InterNations (2016) points out, feelings of alienation and rejection have a significant impact on how new immigrants deal with their new home. It can take longer for some to feel and be accepted but if people from both cultures take time to understand and respect each other’s, the transition for immigrants can be more positive.
Works Cited
Griswold, Daniel. ‘Immigrants have enriched American culture and enhanced our influence in the world.’ Cato Institute. Web, February 18, 2002. http://www.cato.org/publications/commentary/immigrants-have-enriched-american-culture-enhanced-our-influence-world
InterNations. ‘The Early Culture Shock Stages.’ Web, 2016. https://www.internations.org/magazine/what-is-culture-shock-15332/the-early-culture-shock-stages-2
Mohamed, Basheer. ‘A new estimate of the U.S. Muslim population.’ Pew Research Center. Web, January 6, 2016. http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2016/01/06/a-new-estimate-of-the-u-s-muslim-population/
Teaching Tolerance. A project of the Southern poverty law center. ‘American Muslims in the United States.’ Web, 2016. http://www.tolerance.org/publication/american-muslims-united-states
The Four Stages of Culture Shock. ‘Global Perspectives.’ Web, February, 2016. https://medium.com/global-perspectives/the-4-stages-of-culture-shock-a79957726164#.c56ddy99z
