Dissertation
TOWARDS A MIDDLE EASTERN AND NORTH AFRICAN (MENA) PSYCHOLOGY: EXPLORING MENA IDENTITY IN A POST-9/11 GLOBAL CONTEXT
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Washington State University
01/2017
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/111820
Abstract
MENAs are defined in this study as individuals with ethnic, cultural and/or racial origins in 22 Arab League states, and non-Arab countries including: Iran, Turkey and Israel. The global context post 9/11 has undoubtedly impacted the ways in which MENAs are represented in media and therefore understood in the social, political and cultural spheres they occupy. This study aimed to understand how the post-9/11 global context has impacted MENA identity.
Through a qualitative methodology drawing from a critical, liberatory framework (Liberation Psychology) aimed at exploring how the complex sociocultural, historical and political positionality of MENAs impacts identity, sixteen participants were interviewed for this study. Through semi-structured interviews with sixteen participants who claim heritage in any of the 22 Arab League Nations or Iran, the truly complex, multifaceted and contextually rooted nature of identity was uncovered. Three broad themes emerged from the data to explain how the MENA participants in this study understand their identities. First, the broader global context MENAs inhabit is one that is influenced, dominated and controlled by politics and hegemonic pursuits conveyed through media. Second, the immediate external worlds or spaces MENA participants occupy spanned from the southern United States to Canada, and France. External realities MENAs face such as discrimination, exclusion or misunderstanding can be positively or negatively impacted by their immediate external surroundings. Third, the internal worlds or realities that MENAs shared included a variety of emotions from fear, isolation, and shame and humiliation.
Findings from this study suggest that though MENAs may autonomously choose their pan-ethnic or pan-religious identification, mobilization for the purpose of group advocacy will be necessary for MENAs as they continue to be a highly targeted group. Clinically, findings demonstrate that the need for understanding of MENA positionality is critical. Beyond educating themselves about MENAs, mental health professionals may engage in social justice counseling to facilitate awareness of rights and self-advocacy. Additionally, the truly nuanced experience of each participant highlighted the importance of viewing people in terms of their unique identity factors. Pamela Hays’ ADDRESSING factors are suggested as a helpful tool in clinical work with MENAs.
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Details
- Title
- TOWARDS A MIDDLE EASTERN AND NORTH AFRICAN (MENA) PSYCHOLOGY: EXPLORING MENA IDENTITY IN A POST-9/11 GLOBAL CONTEXT
- Creators
- Nahal Crystal Kaivan
- Contributors
- Phyllis Erdman (Advisor)Pamela J. Bettis (Committee Member)Jennifer LeBeau (Committee Member)
- Awarding Institution
- Washington State University
- Academic Unit
- Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology
- Theses and Dissertations
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Washington State University
- Number of pages
- 278
- Identifiers
- 99900581723901842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Dissertation