Announcing the Final Examination of Ms. Gabriela M. Mansour for the degree of Master of Arts in Anthropology.
Date: May 17, 2021
Time: 3:00pm EST
Join Zoom Meeting: https://ucf.zoom.us/j/91503455956
Passcode: 523556
Thesis title: “Queer Arab American Experiences: Navigating Cross Cultural Expectations of Gender and Sexuality”
The understanding of the experiences of queer Arab Americans and the ways in which
they navigate cross cultural expectations of gender and sexuality is limited in the anthropology or social sciences scholarship. The available scholarship focuses primarily on queerness in
juxtaposition to Islam, which is not relatable to all Arab Americans as they are a religiously
diverse group. Through an intersectional approach, this research, conducted from April 2020 to
May 2021, explores the lived experiences of queer Arab Americans from across the United
States (U.S.) while seeking to identify potential commonalities that could encompass a more
general queer Arab American experience in an attempt to broaden the understanding of an
underrepresented population. Over the course of four months from June to September 2020, I
conducted 16 semi-structured interviews that explored how participants navigated their worlds as queer Arab Americans. I conducted media analysis to contextualize the primary data. The
narrative data were transcribed, coded, and analyzed to identify significant themes and
subthemes, and capture the diversity of explanations. The findings in this study were divided into two article manuscripts. The first article examines participants’ experiences through their
interpersonal connections with their families of origin and communities. I argue that, although
religion plays a role in anti-LGBTQ+ attitudes, Arab families are predominantly anti-LGBTQ+
to prevent social ostracization from their communities. Additionally, a lack of public
representation for queer Arab Americans creates hardship and delay in coming to terms with
their gender identities and sexualities and perpetuates this population’s invisibility. Ultimately,
acceptance by an inclusive community strengthened individuals’ confidence in their identities
and helped alleviate the effects of rejection and isolation felt by the participants. The second
article examines the positionality of queer Arab Americans resulting from cultural othering due
to historically strained U.S. relations with the Arab world. As a result, participants felt
invalidated and alienated by people from both Arab and American communities, however they
felt their existences as queer Arabs defied the opposition aimed at them. Additionally, they
perceived American stereotyping of the Arab world hypocritical as the Queer community is still
marginalized and without nationwide legal protections in the U.S.
Outline of Studies:
Major: Anthropology
Educational Career:
B.A., 2019, Anthropology, the University of Central Florida
A.A., 2017, General Studies, Valencia State College
Committee in Charge:
Dr. Joanna Mishtal, Chair
Dr. Nessette Falu
Dr. Shana Harris
Approved for distribution by Dr. Joanna Mishtal, Committee Chair, on May 10, 2021.
The public is welcome to attend.
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