Negotiating Generational Conflict and Identity Formation as a Way to Self Actualization in ... PDF
Preview Negotiating Generational Conflict and Identity Formation as a Way to Self Actualization in ...
WWeesstteerrnn MMiicchhiiggaann UUnniivveerrssiittyy SScchhoollaarrWWoorrkkss aatt WWMMUU Dissertations Graduate College 1-1-2011 NNeeggoottiiaattiinngg GGeenneerraattiioonnaall CCoonnflfliicctt aanndd IIddeennttiittyy FFoorrmmaattiioonn aass aa WWaayy ttoo SSeellff AAccttuuaalliizzaattiioonn iinn CCoonntteemmppoorraarryy AArraabb AAmmeerriiccaann WWoommeenn''ss LLiitteerraattuurree Hassan Ali Abdullah Al-Momani Western Michigan University Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/dissertations RReeccoommmmeennddeedd CCiittaattiioonn Al-Momani, Hassan Ali Abdullah, "Negotiating Generational Conflict and Identity Formation as a Way to Self Actualization in Contemporary Arab American Women's Literature" (2011). Dissertations. 335. https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/dissertations/335 This Dissertation-Open Access is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate College at ScholarWorks at WMU. It has been accepted for inclusion in Dissertations by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks at WMU. For more information, please contact [email protected]. NEGOTIATING GENERATIONAL CONFLICT AND IDENTITY FORMATION AS A WAY TO SELF-ACTUALIZATION IN CONTEMPORARY ARAB AMERICAN WOMEN'S LITERATURE by Hassan Ali Abdullah Al-Momani A Dissertation Submitted to the Faculty of The Graduate College in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Department of English Advisor: Gwen Athene Tarbox, Ph.D. Western Michigan University Kalamazoo, Michigan August 2011 NEGOTIATING GENERATIONAL CONFLICT AND IDENTITY FORMATION AS A WAY TO SELF-ACTUALIZATION IN CONTEMPORARY ARAB AMERICAN WOMEN'S LITERATURE Hassan Ali Abdullah Al-Momani, Ph.D. Western Michigan University, 2011 This study focuses on identity formation in three contemporary Arab American women's novels: Alicia Erian's Towelhead, a text written specifically for young adults, Laila Halaby's West of the Jordan, a novel that has been read and embraced by Arab American young adults, and Evelyn Shakir's Remember Me to Lebanon, a text that features a number of Arab American young adult protagonists. Central to my project is the question of how Arab American female protagonists negotiate a space for themselves within the power structure of their families and their communities in order to forge bi-cultural identities. The first and second chapters present background information on Arab American immigration history and culture, as well as a discussion of the social problems faced by first and second generation Arab American in the post-September lll era. The third chapter sheds light on the reasons that many contemporary Arab American women writers have chosen to depict female adolescence with a focus on young women's negotiation of generational conflict and identity formation. In the fourth chapter, I consider how self-actualization functions through identity formation in Evelyn Shakir's Remember Me to Lebanon and Laila Halaby's West of the Jordan. My goal is to clarify how the protagonists build their autonomy, independence, and self-esteem, decide to live an unconventional life, to fulfill their aspirations, and to realize their potential through developing negotiation skills with the power structures that surround them. In other words, those protagonists who develop negotiation skills are most likely to achieve self-actualization. In the fifth chapter, I extend my analysis to Alicia Erian's Towelhead, a text that has been classified as a "crossover" - it has been labeled both a mainstream text and a text within the canon of YA literature - paying particular attention to the ways a shift in audience alters the text's narrative structure and focus. I also speculate on the reasons that Erian, unlike Shakir or Halaby, depicts secondary characters who are non-Arab. UMI Number: 3480279 All rights reserved INFORMATION TO ALL USERS The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. In the unlikely event that the author did not send a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. UMI Dissertation Publishing UMI 3480279 Copyright 2011 by ProQuest LLC. All rights reserved. This edition of the work is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code. ProQuest LLC 789 East Eisenhower Parkway P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48106-1346 Copyright by Hassan Ali Abdullah Al-Momani 2011 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS First of all, I would like to record my gratitude to Dr. Gwen Tarbox for her supervision, advice, invaluable guidance, helpful criticism, and stimulating comments from the very early stage of this research as well as giving me extraordinary experiences through out the work. Above all and the most needed, she has provided me unflinching encouragement and support in various ways. Her thoughts have inspired and enriched my growth as a student and researcher. I am greatly indebted to her more than she knows. My thanks and appreciation should also go to Dr. Allen Webb, whose support, help, valuable remarks and insightful suggestions are greatly appreciated. Also, I want to extend my thanks to the members of the Supervisory Committee, Dr. Mustafa Mirzeler, and Dr. Lance Weldy for their valuable remarks and criticism. My sincere thanks go to the chairman and the faculty members in the Department of English Language and Literature at Western Michigan University who have exerted great efforts in teaching and guiding me from the very beginning to the final stage of this dissertation. Thanks are also due to the Writing Center director Kim Ballard and to the director and staff members of Technical Services Department at Waldo Library for their encouragement, help, and support. ii Finally, words fail me to express my appreciation to my wife whose dedication, love, encouragement, patience, support, and confidence in me, has taken the load off my shoulder. Therefore, I am greatly endowed with her. My deepest love should go to my beloved daughters Jana and Bushra whose existence in my life makes me more optimistic and happier. My parents, brother, and sisters in Jordan deserve special mention for their inseparable support, encouragement, and prayers. Finally, I would like to thank everybody who was important to the successful realization of the dissertation, as well as expressing my apology that I could not mention personally one by one. Hassan Ali Abdullah Al-Momani in TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ii CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION 1 CHAPTER TWO BACKGROUND ON ARAB AMERICAN IMMIGRATION AND CULTURE 16 CHAPTER THREE ARAB AMERICAN WOMEN WRITERS 63 CHAPTER FOUR NEGOTIATION AND SELF-ACTUALIZATION IN SHAKIR'S REMEMBER ME TO LEBANON AND HALABY'S WEST OF THE JORDAN 88 CHAPTER FIVE NEGOTIATION AND SELF-ACTUALIZATION IN ALICIA ERIAN'S TOWELHEAD 125 BIBLIOGRAPHY 148 IV
Description:The list of books you might like
