Blog Post 14

 MENA Americans

Awad and colleagues’ (2019) article explain three macolevel factors related to cumulative trauma for MENA Americans; these factors include, historical trauma, national context, and societal/institutional discrimination (Figure 1). Figure one also includes two microlevel factors: interpersonal discrimination and identity and recognition.

There are many negative outcomes for MENA Americans due to traumatic experiences, such as “a chronic sense of hopelessness, insecurity, and alienation” (Awad, 2019, para. 30). There’s also evidence in Awad’s (2019) article concerning many mental health effects, such as “higher levels of anxiety, depression, and other symptoms of psychological distress” (para. 31). In addition to this, the physical outcomes of trauma for MENA Americans include, “poorer general health status and higher rates of hypertension, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, respiratory disorders, digestive disorders, and some cancers” (para. 32). 

The national context from the macrolevel factors of the model focuses on the effects of events such as 9/11. One of the assigned videos featured a woman named Dalia Mogahed, who shared her story (TED, 2016) after the tragic day of September eleventh; this is a direct example of national context. She explained the fear she and her family faced, as they hid in their home for a week watching horrible news reporting all Muslims in a negative light (TED, 2016). Another example from Mogahed (TED, 2016) would be the microlevel factor of interpersonal discrimination. This is displayed in the true story of Craig Hicks murdering his Muslim neighbors after posting inappropriate, racist content on Facebook. (TED, 2016). 

There are many ways we see resilience and resistance in the females in the videos. Dalia Mogahed leads her family in courage as they attend Celebration the Friday after 9/11, even though they are strongly warned to not attend (TED, 2016). In the video featuring Dalya (The New York Times, 2017), a young lady new to America, there is inspiring protesting shown. She takes to a protest after the “Muslim Ban” put in place by Donald Trump (The New York Times, 2017). 

It is never okay to ban/target an entire group, such as Muslims or Japanese. As we’ve seen, there are serious consequences for everyone involved when we target a specific, entire group. It leaves innocent people out in harm's way, negatively affects the people of that group who are already in the United States, and ultimately, instills fear in the nation and further divides us. Targeting or banning an entire group is always impermissible. 

References

Awad, G. H., Kia-Keating, M., & Amer, M. M. (2019). A model of cumulative racial–ethnic trauma among Americans of Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) descent. American Psychologist, 74(1), 76–87. https://doi.org/10.1037/amp0000344 

The New York Times. (2017). From Aleppo To La: Coming Of Age As A Muslim Girl In America. [Video]. YouTube. Retrieved April 13, 2022, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YR3SRYA7r8g. 

TED Talk. (2016). What it's like to be a Muslim in America. [Video]. YouTube. Retrieved April 13, 2022, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzkFoetp-_M. 

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