Arabic Generation
What do you think of when you hear the word Arab? Chances are, you immediately thought of one or more of the following descriptors: rich, conservative, religious, conservative, or monolingual.
While all of these stereotypes have some validity, there are actually five different types of Arabs in the Middle East and North Africa that vary greatly from one another by social class, generational breakdowns, cultural values, and much more!
Generation Y: Young Digitally Native
Second- or subsequent-generation immigrants in Arab countries are also identified as Generation Y.
They have been influenced by the changes occurring within their country and wider region such as globalization, new media, and emerging political activism.
Studies show that Generation Y is more likely to have completed tertiary education than previous generations and evidence suggests that this group will be found across diverse occupations in the future.
Although acculturation has an impact on economic success and risk factors vary, they generally perform better when comparing themselves to other generational groups within America’s immigrant population.
Generation Y (Arab Americans) is a category that can encompass a wide range of individuals with diverse experiences because most Arabs in the United States immigrated during the 1960s-1980s.
Some may not identify as Arab at all, but for others there may be a stronger connection to their ethnic identity.
Previous studies have shown that Arab Americans’ socioeconomic status is higher than the average American.
Previous studies, socioeconomic outcomes, second- or subsequent-generation immigrants are twice as likely to live in upper income households compared to those born outside of the United States.
However, there is still evidence showing that some Arab Americans struggle economically and socially due to discrimination and lack of English language skills.
Generation X: Middle Children
Gen-Xers are typically the middle child of their family and as a result have to work harder to get noticed.
They are often ambitious, but don’t always know what they want in life. They are also the most diverse group with children who were born in Arab countries and children who were born in the United States.
They can be pragmatic and progressive because they grew up with all the different cultures around them.
They often struggle with adapting to change quickly, which can make it difficult for them to succeed in a fast-paced business environment.
The Arab Generation is experiencing the impact of acculturation, however it is less severe than that of their Western counterparts because many Arab Americans only move from one Arab country to another.
The first-, second-, and subsequent generation immigrants have had an impact on Arab population growth in both Arab countries and Arab American communities, where there is an increased need for jobs that require fluency in English or Arabic language skills.
Read this: How to get certified Arabic translation services for immigration in the US?
Generation Z: Digital Ambassadors
Generation Z is the newest generation, and they will be the ones to shape the future. They are digital natives that have grown up in a world where they can connect with anyone, anywhere, anytime.
They are used to checking social media multiple times per day and using a smartphone or tablet as their primary tool for staying in touch with friends.
Generation Z is also the most diverse generation yet, with one third of them being born outside America.
They have witnessed firsthand how other cultures interact and communicate; this has given them a unique perspective on both themselves and others from different backgrounds.
Generation Z is made up of around 60 million people who were born between 1995-2010. This group values creativity, individuality, independence, and agility in everything they do.
If you want to work with Arab immigrants, then it is important to know what makes this particular group so interesting.
They are often called Generation 1.5 because many were born in Arab countries but live abroad due to immigration restrictions back home or poverty.
Many second-generation immigrant children still identify closely with their culture, which includes food, religion, language and family customs even though they grew up abroad.
Baby Boomers: Pioneers
In the US, the Baby Boomers are considered to be the second- or subsequent-generation immigrants who came in the 1950s and 1960s.
They were either born in Arab countries like Lebanon, or were part of Arab American families that immigrated to America.
A lot of these kids became very successful because their parents had already paved the way for them, but many also faced discrimination because they were not Caucasian.
For example, some could only find work as laborers in factories since it was difficult for employers to get around the no-hire laws.
Generation X: Babies: The generation born between 1980 and 2000; this is an outlier generation with a size unknown as it will eventually include all those born after Millennials.
This generation includes young people living in Arab countries today such as Bahrain and Kuwait, which have younger populations than Syria (where life expectancy is much lower).
Generation Z: Tweens: Born after 2001; known for being digital natives who can use apps and do online shopping with ease.
FAQs
Arabs descend from many different cultures and are the descendants of those who came to Muslim-controlled regions. The five main generations are: first-generation immigrants, second- or subsequent-generation immigrants, generation Chinese, Arab countries, Arab Americans.
Arab ethnicity is a diverse category that includes people with origins in Arab countries.
First generation Arabic people are Arabs who were born and raised in the Arab countries. Second or subsequent-generation immigrants are those who have immigrated to Western countries. Arab Americans are those born in America, with at least one parent who is an Arab immigrant.
