Items

• Interview
  The interviewee identifies herself as a Muslim Palestinian American. Sarah (name changed for confidentiality reasons) was born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Sarah attended a private Islamic school in the greater Milwaukee area throughout her elementary, middle, and high school years and believes her family and community have a big influence in her daily life. The two most important factors that shape her life are religion and culture as well, and she identifies greatly with the two, but emphasizes the importance of religion more in living a successful life. In terms of culture, Sarah sticks to some cultural aspects such as: speaking the Arabic language at home and wearing traditional cultural clothing at cultural events and special occasions, which helps her connect with her homeland and the values instilled in her while growing up as a child. Sarah is a college student, studying biology and would like to further her studies, after she graduates with a bachelors, and continue on the path of medicine. Sarah is currently not married and would like to finish her studies before considering marriage.
• Interview
  Overall I asked Raman 25 questions in regards to her background. Among the questions and the information included in the transcript include the following. I first thank Raman for her time and explain the purpose of the interview. I also informed her that if she felt uncomfortable, please let me know and I'll move on to the next question. The first question I asked her was her background information. This included questions such as where she was born, where did she grow up, where did she live, where did she go to school, does she have any hobbies. I also asked her about her family background which included questions such as “Why her family come to the United States,” or “describe to me some of your family members.” Much of the interview includes information about her Palestinian cultural background. I do also ask Raman some of her own personal views such as “what her reaction was to 9/11,” “her views on Al-Qaeda and what is going on in Syria, Iraq, and ISIS,” “some of her philosophical views”, and even some of her own views on topics involving Islam.
• Interview
  Hedaya Hassan is a 27 year-old Muslim Palestinian woman who teaches second grade at Salam Elementary, an Islamic school in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Married with one daughter who is 4, Hassan speaks about what it was like to spend the majority in war-torn Palestine with an enormous family of over 100 cousins. She recalls incidents of late night intrusions from Israeli soldiers who would bang on the door in the middle of the night/early morning hours to make sure the residents were legal and if there was any evidence of participation/involvement in the war. She also recalls the severe anxiety attacks she suffered when she would see any police in uniform regardless of the Palestinian/Israeli origin. However, she believes growing up surrounded by this has contributed to strengthening her as person. After moving back to the United States one year after 9/11, she explains how scared her family members were to leave the house following the attacks. Being a second-grade teacher, Hassan shares what it is like to be able to help her students who have come from countries with war and she likes being able support her students that are struggling with the transition to The States or whose families have been separated while coming to the US. Coming from a well-educated family and having two brothers working as doctors, she believes strongly in the importance of education. She says that both she and her husband’s family support discourse and debate challenging different ideas and traditions. She hopes to instill this quality in her daughter by surrounding her with diversity and encouraging her to ask questions so that she will grow up to be a well-rounded and open-minded person. She has hopes that her daughter will grow up to be a good Muslim woman, but she also realizes that a child is like a seed and a parent’s job is to nurture/aid in healthy growth but after that, the rest is out of her control. In light of Donald Trump’s recent election, she worries for her daughter’s future because of the xenophobic rhetoric surrounding his campaign pared with the enormous numbers of supporters.
• Interview
  Rania (name changed for confidentiality) is a second-generation Arab American who grew up as the oldest daughter under very strict parents, with a father known for his old-school mentality. She was born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and although she attended the local Islamic school, culture took the forefront in her family home over religion. Rania’s parents expected of her not only to marry right after graduating from high school, but she was expected to marry a man who originates from the same village as her family. One of the biggest challenges Rania faced was convincing her parents to pursue further education, instead of getting married after high school. Although in the end they agreed, they still did not like the idea of her becoming a full-time working nurse. Her husband, Mustafa (name changed for confidentiality), and his family were very well known in the community. The two knew each other for quite some time and when it came to asking for her hand Rania’s father did not agree to it because Mustafa was not from their family’s village. However, Mustafa was persistent and asked for her hand in marriage several times before Rania’s father agreed. Rania believes she has paved the way for her younger siblings and their future endeavors because she was able to show her father and convince him to move beyond some ideas that stem from his traditional mentality.
• Interview
  Fatima (name changed for confidentiality reasons) is an immigrant originally from Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, who came to Milwaukee in order to pursue higher education. She has a bachelor’s and master’s degree in supply chain management. After graduation, Fatima remained in the United States and between 2013 and 2014 was engaged and married to her husband. They have one child together. Before having her son, Fatima worked as an assistant manager in several different company departments. When not in the United States, she enjoys visiting her national homeland, Palestine, with her family.
• Interview
  I had the opportunity to interview young women who migrated to the United States from Jordan in 2011. She initially met her husband online and after many visits to her home country he asked for her hand in marriage, after seeking the approval of her father. Being that he was born in the United States and Muslim convert, she was faced with objections and hesitation from close family members. There were concerns for her safety and if her husband would be strong enough to maintain his faith and take on the responsibilities of raising a family. However, she followed her heart and started her journey out West to start a new chapter in her life. She speaks freely about settling in a new country, marriage, adapting to the food, culture and fears and challenges that many mothers share, of raising two Muslim children in America. By being consistent and passionate in her teachings her faith, she was able to quickly establish herself within the Muslim community in Milwaukee keeping her identity yet embracing her new life/
• Interview
  This interviewee discusses her life and different identities as a 2nd generation American Muslim living in Wisconsin attending a Catholic university. As a young activist for Muslim women who is vice president of the Muslim Student Association at Marquette, she discusses challenges when facing misconceptions and discrimination from identifying as a Muslim, and breaking traditional gender roles of marrying young to instead focusing on education. She shares her thoughts when it comes to the Palestinian conflict, her experiences post 9/11, various work and research experiences, and religious and cultural clothing and why she chooses to wear the hijab. She talks about dating, drinking, and other college activities, along with personal identity development over the years. Jabbar’s background, educational history, cultural/religious traditions, family/friend dynamics all contributes to the challenges and insights that result from being a young woman balancing an American, Palestinian, and Muslim identity.
• Interview
  Huda is a second generation women who spent most of her life growing up in North Carolina in a town which had very little diversity. She got married at the age of 21 and moved to Milwaukee. She is the oldest of three girls. Prior to moving to Milwaukee, she completed her bachelor’s degree in North Carolina in Accounting. After moving to Milwaukee she completed her master’s degree at UW-Milwaukee. She prides herself as a Muslim and Palestinian. Growing up, she struggled formulating her identity, she feels that the older she is getting the more she prides herself in her Muslim and Palestinian identities. She feels that her parents’ emphasis on education has allowed her to become goal and career oriented. Establishing her career and independence was very important to her and finding a husband who was supportive of her goals has allowed her to be continue her education and establish a career for her, marriage is about teamwork effort and friendship.
• Interview
  Nada (name changed for confidentiality reasons) is a second generation women who has spent most of her life in the Milwaukee area. She identified herself as a Muslim first, and Palestinian American second. She is currently a student at Marquette University where she majors in Clinical Lab Science. Nada grew up with her parents who have incorporated much of their heritage into their life as she was growing up. She was born in Milwaukee as the youngest of her siblings. Although she has spent most of her live in the United States, she feels a great sense of pride in her Palestinian heritage. Growing up she visited Palestine numerus times during her school vacations. Nada attended Milwaukee Public Schools for all her K-12 schooling. Despite having few Muslim friends outside of her family growing up, she maintained a very strong sense of her Islam. Nada also pointed that throughout her live, she has very scarcely been ostracized due to her Muslim identity. She hopes to make her parents proud by excelling in her studies and becoming successful.
• Interview
  The interviewee identifies herself as a Muslim Palestinian American. Sarah (name changed for confidentiality reasons) was born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Sarah attended a private Islamic school in the greater Milwaukee area throughout her elementary, middle, and high school years and believes her family and community have a big influence in her daily life. The two most important factors that shape her life are religion and culture as well, and she identifies greatly with the two, but emphasizes the importance of religion more in living a successful life. In terms of culture, Sarah sticks to some cultural aspects such as: speaking the Arabic language at home and wearing traditional cultural clothing at cultural events and special occasions, which helps her connect with her homeland and the values instilled in her while growing up as a child. Sarah is a college student, studying biology and would like to further her studies, after she graduates with a bachelors, and continue on the path of medicine. Sarah is currently not married and would like to finish her studies before considering marriage.
• Interview
  Amani (name changed for confidentiality reasons) identifies herself as a second generation Muslim American of Palestinian descent. Amani remembers spending most of her childhood with her cousins and seven siblings. She graduated from Marquette University in 2007 with a degree in Clinical Laboratory Science and currently works at a hospital. As a child, Amani knew being Muslim meant there were restrictions on things she could and could not do, and as she became older she understood the importance of religion in her daily life. Religion is an important part of her daily life and she hopes to instill this within her daughter as well. Growing up, Amani found that culture sometimes use to override religion, and found that to be a result of being raised by first generation parents. Amani resides in Milwaukee and is married to a Moroccan Muslim and has a daughter.
• Interview
  The interviewee identifies himself first and foremost as an American-Muslim. Ahmad (name changed for confidentiality reasons) was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois and later moved to Palestine during his late childhood years and returned to the U.S. during his early adulthood years. Ahmad is an entrepreneur and was not able to complete college due to financial hardship. Religion is the most important factor to Ahmad and he believes it is an essential component throughout his daily life. Life has posed many challenges after 9/11 for him as an American-Muslim. He has strongly felt the pressure to educate his fellow peers and believes that education is a strong asset in portraying the real image of Islam. In addition to religion, Ahmad emphasized the importance of family and visiting his homeland Palestine to visit his parents and relatives. Ahmad resides in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and is married to a Palestinian Muslim and has four children.
• Interview
  As a second generation Muslim Arab woman who has lived in the United States as well as Palestine, Monaal discusses the journey she went through consciously in order to find her place between culture and religion. As a working mother of two children she highlights the importance of setting a good example for her children in order to influence a sense of strong religious identity within them. Through cultural clothing and her decision to wear the hijab, Monaal hopes her children will learn to be proud of who they are and where they come from. Her daughter encourages her to continue to wear traditional clothing in order to keep a sense of culture. In her interview Monaal’s connection with her homeland shines through as she talks about a common feeling of togetherness within the Palestinian community as each individual empathizes with the oppression Palestinians have endured throughout the years.
• Interview
  Family and the Muslim community of Milwaukee are the main focus in the interview conducted with Rana. Family and community have been a source of strife for Rana, instead of the comfort that many immigrants seek when beginning their new lives in America. In the interview we talked about several confrontations that occurred in Rana's life due to decisions she made that did not sit well with the enclosed Muslim community.
• Interview
  As a first generation immigrant from Algeria, Leena grew up in a smaller community with her time split between life in France where her Christian mother lived and Algeria where her Muslim father lived. In her religion the children always take the religion of their father, so she herself grew up Muslim. Her marriage was arranged and had three children, and moved from Algeria with her daughter to Milwaukee Wisconsin where her father lived. She experienced some adjusting to living in the United States, however with her families support she was able to learn English and decided to stay. She has her green card and is hoping to gain citizenship soon so that her husband and two other children can come to live with her. It should be noted that there is also a translator who is present within the interview and occasionally explains Arabic words to myself as that I have no understanding of Arabic, and my interviewee felt limited by her understanding of some English vocabulary. The translator was arranged by my interviewee and helped me by translating some terminology exclusive to the Arabic language, and vice versa.
• Interview
  Duha Salim was born in Jordan, but grew up in Puerto Rico before coming to the United States. She identifies as a Muslim American-Palestinian woman, and relates most strongly with Arab culture. Duha Salim considers herself an outsider, because she feels like she cannot advocate for herself, fearing that she will be viewed badly. She feels that she can express her true identity with friends and family. Duha Salim currently works as a DJ and is pursuing higher education at Cardinal Stritch University, where she is studying nursing.
• Interview
  This interview with Mrs. Doua Ibraheem highlights the experience of an Arab-Muslim woman in the U.S.A. She narrates her experiences and opinions on immigration, family, religion, education, vocation, community, and the consequent relationships among these facets of life. Religion reinforced her self-identity and progressively became important in her life. This led to the successful assimilation into American culture. Her answers support the statement that being a Muslim is far more important to her than being an Arab, an American, or an Arab-American.
• Interview
  The respondent is a Syrian man from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He is a small business-owner, teaches at a local university/college, and is currently completing a PhD. He has a teenage child and two other children who are young adults (one is a female who suffers from high anxiety). He also discussed his own sports-related injury. He offered perspectives on how these issues are treated in the United States and Middle East. Although he had never witnessed discrimination against himself or his family related to differences in ability, he noted the importance of giving as much care as you can, and how in predominantly Muslim countries care towards differences in ability is not publicly displayed. He describes care as a strongly familial practice, but he emphasizes that people need to understand the stresses that other people endure in order to better accommodate their needs.
• Interview
  This individual, a female from Palestine, who lived in Jordan for 10 years before migrating to the United States in 1991. She is currently caring for a family member, her son, with mental illness, specifically depression and schizophrenia. Her family has been unable to provide proper care for this individual because he is refusing care. He currently lives at home with the interviewee. She discusses her own coping mechanisms as a caregiver and the social effects of her son's illness on her, her family, and his future. She also speaks about the stigma surrounding disabilities and mental illness.
• Interview
  The respondent is a Palestinian woman from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She and her husband have one teenager and four young adults. The second oldest son suffers from paralysis as a result of spina bifida. She is a leader and activist in the Milwaukee Muslim community and runs a non-profit. She discussed her life as a mother, caregiver, and community activist. Although she experienced a lot of emotional difficulties with handling all of her children and her son with differences in abilities, she notes that neither she nor her son has experienced any negative perceptions or discrimination based on her son’s disabilities. She does note, however, that although family and friends are helpful for providing logistical and emotional support, formal respite care is something that people in Milwaukee need desperately to care for these children, Palestine, United States