StudentShare
Contact Us
Sign In / Sign Up for FREE
Search
Go to advanced search...

Fire and Sand by Laila Halaby - Book Report/Review Example

Cite this document
Summary
In the paper “Fire and Sand by Laila Halaby,” the author discusses literary work which is truly significant and influential, as it exposes the impact of Arab culture and as well focuses on the process of identity formation among Arab-American second generation…
Download full paper File format: .doc, available for editing
GRAB THE BEST PAPER94.3% of users find it useful
Fire and Sand by Laila Halaby
Read Text Preview

Extract of sample "Fire and Sand by Laila Halaby"

Download file to see previous pages

The most major thing that will be done here is to address how this work exposes the impact of Arab culture, and as well how the culture itself has learned to adapt and be part of American society. By doing this, we will be able to gain a much more informed and knowledgeable understanding of the subject matter at hand overall. This is what will be dissertated in the following. This book discusses Arab culture in great detail and in particular that of the impact that Arab culture has on the process of identity formation among Arab-Americans.

Gender relations are pointed out as being a very central theme here overall in regards to discovering the process of ethnic identity formation, and specifically, it is considered that "there are a set of restrictions placed upon the females by parents with regard to social outings, particularly with regards to dating, which does not apply to males. This difference marks not only the parent-child relationship but extends to the relationship between brother and sister. Brothers often assume the role of protector as they watch over their sister.

The social structure of the community places the female in a position where her actions not only represent herself but extend to her family and to community members generally; "She is the bearer and transmitter of the Arab ethnic identity in America" (117). Therefore we see how it is women, for the most part, who are depended upon in regards to identity formation for the Arab culture, which is a fact that is actually considered as being rather strange by some, considering that the men clearly have more authority and power overall in all other aspects, and yet it is the women who formulate the identity of the Arab culture all over the world.

Religion is another subject which is used as another central theme in this book, as it is considered that it "not only serves as a justification for the structure of gender relations but also oftentimes becomes conflated with definitions of Arab culture" (145). Halaby proves this point by showing how Arab religion and culture play a part in Arabs across the world, even those who were born and raised in America, for even those Arabs are expected to be "fully Arab and respect and live out the Arab culture" (298).

In other words, if an Arab-American, even if they have lived their entire life in America, was to publicly make a wrong against their culture, it would greatly affect their entire family, regardless of whether the rest of their family lived in America as well or back East, and as well their community as a whole. This is a huge and incredibly significant deal, and this is why the issue of the impact of Arab culture and American culture on the process of identity formation - particularly among Arab-American second generation - is so significant and relevant as an issue here.

Halaby also makes strong note of the fact that most people who consider themselves as being Arabs do so on the basis of the overlap of the political and linguistic definitions, and yet at the same time, some members of groups who meet both criteria result in rejecting the identity on the basis of genealogical and ethnonational definitions.

...Download file to see next pages Read More
Cite this document
  • APA
  • MLA
  • CHICAGO
(Fire and Sand by Laila Halaby Book Report/Review, n.d.)
Fire and Sand by Laila Halaby Book Report/Review. Retrieved from https://studentshare.org/literature/1513183-laila-halabys-fire-and-sand
(Fire and Sand by Laila Halaby Book Report/Review)
Fire and Sand by Laila Halaby Book Report/Review. https://studentshare.org/literature/1513183-laila-halabys-fire-and-sand.
“Fire and Sand by Laila Halaby Book Report/Review”. https://studentshare.org/literature/1513183-laila-halabys-fire-and-sand.
  • Cited: 0 times

CHECK THESE SAMPLES OF Fire and Sand by Laila Halaby

War and Women

he central characters of the book, Mariam and laila both face terrible hardships in the patriarchal society of Afghanistan during the civil war at the end of the twentieth century.... The beautiful laila, the other main character of the book, is the daughter of a teacher and is more knowledgeable and spirited than Mariam.... When both her parents die soon after in a rocket attack, laila is saved by Rasheed, whom she is forced to marry as she hears that Tariq and his parents are dead....
5 Pages (1250 words) Book Report/Review

Marketing Strategies of Ford Galaxy

The thrust of this paper is to evaluate the current competitive landscape in UK Light Car Industry and analyse the marketing strategies of Ford Galaxy.... Market statistics and trends will be presented to provide a crystal-clear understanding of the dynamics in the car industry.... hellip; This will be followed by thorough evaluation of the current marketing mix and programs of Ford Galaxy relative to intense competition....
10 Pages (2500 words) Essay

Five Classifications of Fire

The paper "Five Classifications of fire" highlights that class K fires involve vegetable and animal oils, and fats in appliances in kitchen restaurants and cafeterias.... nbsp;… This essay discusses the five classifications of fire, consisting of A, B, C, D and K, the extinguishing agents used to control each along with their application methods.... Carbon Dioxide and Dry-Chemical agents, Foam and Halons Extinguishers form suitable extinguishing agents, lowering the temperature below flashpoint, by removing the fire's oxygen supply....
1 Pages (250 words) Essay

The Marginalization and Restriction of the Power of Teresa of Avila

'"Oh, the devil, the devil!... we say, when we might be saying "God!... God!... and making the devil tremble.... Of course we might, for we know he cannot move a finger unless the Lord permits it.... Whatever are we thinking of I am quite sure I am more afraid of people who are themselves terrified of the devil than I am of the devil himself....
20 Pages (5000 words) Essay

A Thousand Splendid Suns Critique

The storyline revolves around the characters of two women, Mariam and laila, who were brought Khaled Hosseini was born in the year 1965 in Kabul, Afghanistan.... This phrase has been used twice in the novel, once when laila's family was preparing to leave Kabul with her family, and again where we find when she finally decided to go to Pakistan from Kabul.... The title is being echoed towards the end where we see Mariam has occupied a place in laila's heart, where she stands outs with the bursting radiance of a thousand suns....
6 Pages (1500 words) Book Report/Review

HR and Hire and Fire

This paper “HR and Hire and fire” aims at discussing in detail the concept of 'hire and fire' which has been adopted by companies and how the technique impacts the philosophy of the employees.... One of the processes that the human resources team also works with is the 'hire and fire' concept (Moran & Longo, 2006).... The 'hire and fire' has been explained as, employing new staff and dismissing the old staff frequently....
10 Pages (2500 words) Dissertation

Knowledge Management and the Competitive Strategy of the Firm

This research will begin with the statement that knowledge management proves to be a strategy that can assist in enhancing organizational competitiveness.... The paper seeks to determine the relationship that links knowledge management to organizations the competitive advantage.... hellip; The researcher states that most organizations have made organizational knowledge to be one of their strategic assets....
4 Pages (1000 words) Article

Fire Operations in Strathclyde Fire and Rescue

… The paper "Fire Operations in Strathclyde fire and Rescue" is a wonderful example of a case study on management.... Strathclyde fire and Rescue is one of the largest fire and rescue operation services in Europe.... The paper "Fire Operations in Strathclyde fire and Rescue" is a wonderful example of a case study on management.... Strathclyde fire and Rescue is one of the largest fire and rescue operation services in Europe....
9 Pages (2250 words) Case Study
sponsored ads
We use cookies to create the best experience for you. Keep on browsing if you are OK with that, or find out how to manage cookies.
Contact Us