Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Bowling Green State University, 2011, American Culture Studies/Ethnic Studies

Arab Muslim women have been portrayed by the West in general and Western Feminism in particular as oppressed, weak, submissive, and passive. A few critics, Nawar al-Hassan Golley, is an example, clarify that Arab Muslim women are not weak and passive as they are seen by the Western Feminism viewed through the lens of their own culture and historical background. Using Transnational Feminist theory, my study examines four autobiographies: Harem Years By Huda Sha'arawi, A Mountainous Journey a Poet's Autobiography by Fadwa Tuqan, A Daughter of Isis by Nawal El Saadawi, and Dreams of Trespass, Tales of a Harem Girlhood by Fatima Mernissi. This study promises to add to the extant literature that examine Arab Muslim women's status by viewing Arab women's autobiographies as real life stories to introduce examples of Arab Muslim women figures who have effected positive and significant changes for themselves and their societies. Moreover, this study seeks to demonstrate, through the study of select Arab Muslim women's autobiographies, that Arab Muslim women are educated, have feminist consciousnesses, and national figures with their own clear reading of their own religion and culture, more telling than that of the reading of outsiders.

Committee: Ellen Berry PhD (Committee Chair); Vibha Bhalla PhD (Other); Radhika Gajjala PhD (Committee Member); Erin Labbie PhD (Committee Member) Subjects: Communication; Ethnic Studies; History; Religion

Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 2022, Anthropology

Sports spectating is a site where supporters build their identities and navigate experiences of belonging within their communities. In this dissertation, I explore spectator experiences of Arab American Muslim women in Southeast Detroit and examine how women create social identities through their experiences of watching and following American football. Arab and Muslim women's experiences, particularly with sport, have often been represented in Orientalist and Islamophobic ways that inaccurately portray them as meek and oppressed rather than as agents. This research project uses a feminist framework to highlight Arab and Muslim women's diverse voices, histories, and experiences. I critically examine the different ways women engage in spectator culture to understand how it can be a joyful site of identity building as well as a site where women negotiate their inclusion and belonging. The data for this project was collected through participant observation at high school football games and other sport spaces and events in a large Arab American community in Southeast Detroit. I also conducted semi-structured interviews with Arab American Muslim women and members of their family and peer groups. All participants were local sports fans and supporters who were asked about their experiences within their spectator communities. Thematic analysis of interviews revealed that women consider sports to be a key aspect of the relationships they build within families, as well as a place to create community and identity among friends, neighbors, and other spectators in stadiums and online spaces. In the context of watching and following sports, Arab American Muslim women navigate gender expectations from their social groups and take different approaches to challenging and maintaining gender norms while establishing their belonging in sport spaces, from the high school football bleachers to Ford Field. Findings demonstrate that watching and supporting local sports is important to women (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Jeffrey Cohen (Advisor) Subjects: Cultural Anthropology

Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 2006, Social Work

Despite growing evidence that immigrant women are at risk of becoming victims of domestic violence, there has been little effort until recently to address intimate partner violence in the increasing immigrant populations in the United States. Evidence in the literature indicates that the severity as well as prevalence of intimate partner violence may be higher among immigrant groups. Suffering coupled with partner violence is additionally associated with problems related to immigration and acculturation. Yet, previous studies on intimate partner violence have rarely regarded the immigration status of the victim or the specific cultural and religious background of the immigrants. The purpose of this study was to design a valid and reliable instrument, Likert-type scale that measures Arab-Muslim women's perception of marital violence. The scale was intended to investigate how Arab-Muslim women define intimate partner violence, help-seeking sources women might ask for help in case of intimate partner violence occurring, and barriers they might perceive in seeking outside help. The study examined 224 Arab-Muslim women's definition of marital violence, help-seeking sources preferences they might consult in case of marital violence, and barriers they might perceive in seeking outside help. The results indicated the length of stay Arab-Muslim women been in the United States and the amount of education they have received influence their perception of marital violence and their help-seeking preferences.

Committee: Denise Bronson (Advisor) Subjects: Social Work