The racialization of Arab panethnic identity: exploring students’ ingroup and outgroup social positionings

Abstract

Islamophobia has become increasingly evident in the sociocultural landscape of the United States. The current political climate which centers on the influx of refugees and concerns of extremists has in effect othered individuals of Arab ancestry as a bounded group. Arab students represent a heterogeneous group of individuals, encompassing a variety of viewpoints that challenge the fixed and static notion of Arab identity. This study utilizes the concept of racialization to explore the ways that a group of Arab students within a predominantly white institution in the southern region were othered through the influence of a negative Arab image. Through case study methodology including interview and observational data, participants explained the multiple ways they were distanced and connected to the dominant group as well as other Arab students. Related to the ways participants navigated dominant norms to establish a sense of belonging, findings reveal that institutional leaders and practitioners need to engage in greater critical reflection to maximize support for marginalized groups.