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AAI at EAPS General DemographicsPopulation· Estimated Arab American population: 3-3.5 million · Egyptian ancestry population 11-12% of all Arab Americans, estimated at about 350,000 · From 2000 census, Egyptians are #1 Arab subgroup in state of NJ, surpassing traditionally largest subgroups (Lebanese and Syrians) in every other state · Egyptians comprise about 33% of total Arab American population in NJ · Egypt is the SECOND most prevalent Arab ancestry in CA, OH and TX (after Lebanon) · Egypt is the THIRD in NY, FL, PA (after Lebanon and Syria) Immigration · Egypt has the largest Arab immigration rate to NY and NJ (source: INS 1997) representing at least 25% of all Arab immigrants to these two states Socio-economic indicators (based on last available census stats—1990) · Higher education: Egyptians have the highest percentage (60%) of people with Bachelors degree or higher · This is twice the average educational achievement of all Arab Americans, and 3 times the average of all Americans · Occupation: 46% of Egyptian Americans are in professional or managerial jobs · Income: mean income in 1990 of EAs: $54K, vs. $47K for all Arab Americans, and $38K for all US · Nativity/citizenship: in 1990, 1/3 of the Egyptian American population was born in US, and 1/3 of all Egyptian Americans were not yet citizens NOTE: THE FOLLOWING NOTES ARE FROM AN EARLIER PRESENTATION TO THE MIDDLE EAST STUDIES ASSOCIATION AND DO NOT ENTIRELY CORRESPOND WITH THE EAPS PRESENATION. I HAVE INSERTED WHERE APPROPRIATE THE SUB GROUP DATA FROM EGYPTIAN AMERICAN RESPONDANTS. AAIF Opinion Surveys of Arab American attitudes and behaviorsThe survey responses summarized below present selected indicators of ethnic identity among 500 randomly selected Arab American adults. Surveys were conducted by telephone by Zogby International (ZI) in October 2001, May 2002 and October 2002. [disclose weighting and margin of error]. The sample approximates the demographics of the Arab American population by country of origin, religious affiliation and nativity; the survey sample, however, over represents older respondents, college graduates and U.S. citizens. A number of indicators on ethnic identity have been compared to responses to a survey of Arab Americans taken in February 2000, also by ZI.The principal indicators selected below are: 1. Personal experience with discrimination 2. Impact of 9/11 on public display of ethnicity 3. Self-view 4. Importance of ethnicity in self-definition 5. Degree of ethnic pride 6. Strength of ties to country of origin 7. Political attitudes 1. Personal Experience with Discrimination based on ethnicity (asked in October 2002)
2. Impact of 9/11 on Public Display of EthnicityQuestion 1: Since September 11, would you say you do more, less or about the same of the following:· Feel comfortable speaking Arabic around non-Arabs in public · Engage in discussions about events in the Middle East · Express your opinions about the Middle East freely to friends and acquaintances Question 2: Would you say the events since 9/11 have positively or negatively affected the public display of your ethnicity in any way? Question 3: If you received a census form today, would you be more likely or less likely to disclose your Arab ancestry? Questions 1 and 3 were asked in May and October of 2002, and Question 2 only in October 2002. Three times as many Arabic speakers reported no change in their comfort level compared to those who feel less comfortable, which averaged about 20% of those who speak Arabic. Respondents of Egyptian descent were twice as likely to report no change in comfort with speaking Arabic, leaving one-third of EAs reporting less comfort. When asked in May 2002 about expressing opinions about the Middle East, more than two fifths (42%) reported they are more likely to do so since 9/11, and the same amount (43%) reported no change in behavior. Again, the timing of the survey in the midst of the media attention on the crisis in Palestine may have contributed to this spike. When asked in October 2002, 35% of respondents said they would be more likely to discuss Middle East issues, with 19% less likely and 44% reporting no change in behavior. When asked in October 2002 if the events of 9/11 affected negatively or positively the public display of their ethnicity, the majority (57%) reported a negative impact, 11% reported a positive impact, and 28% said the events had no effect. Those who reported negative impact varied little by place of birth (56% US born vs. 59% of foreign born) or gender (55% males vs. 58% of females). Younger Arab Americans (66%) were more likely than older ones (45%) to report a negative impact, and Muslims (68%) more likely than Christians (51%) to feel that the events of 9/11 negatively impacted their public display of ethnicity. Egyptian Americans reported at the same rate as the Arab American average, i.e. 57% cited negative impact. Among the more surprising responses was the relatively high percentage of respondents in 2002 who would be more likely to disclose their Arab ancestry on a census form. In May, 48% of all respondents said they would be more likely to report their Arab ancestry, with 10% less likely and 42% reporting no change in behavior. In October 2002, the majority (58%) said they are more likely to disclose their ancestry on the census, with 12% less likely and 30% the same. Among Egyptian Americans, 52% were more likely to disclose their ancestry on the census, with 23% less likely to report (highest of all Arab subgroups) The over sampling of citizens in this survey necessitates further research in this area to evaluate the post 9/11 impact on survey responses among the more vulnerable segment of the population: non-citizens and non-residents of Arab descent. Certain subgroups of Arab Americans were more affected by harassment or unfair treatment after 9/11: young men, Muslims, foreign born, workers with direct public contact (sales, retail, services). 3. Self-ViewQuestion: How are you most likely to describe yourself? (By country of origin; as Arab American; by both; neither)In overall responses, Arab American was the most frequent response (37%). Foreign born respondents are more likely to identify by country of origin; more U.S. born cited both Arab American and country of origin, and 27% of those surveyed chose “neither”. The frequency of choosing the generic identifier Arab American is twice that of census ancestry responses, which in 2000 was 18% of total “Arab” responses, up from 10% in 1990. Taking respondents by country of origin, those of Lebanese origin were more likely to describe themselves by country of origin ( vs. 13% of Egyptians) ; persons of Palestinian, Jordanian, Egyptian (55%) and Iraqi descent selected Arab American more often; and most likely to respond “neither” were from Lebanon, Syria and Egypt (14%). By age, the highest percentage (47%) of the young (18-34) chose Arab American, while 63% of older Arab Americans (age 50+) chose “neither”. By religious affiliation, Arab American was selected by 65% of Muslims, 43% of Orthodox and 21% of Catholics. Conversely 38% of Catholics, 21% of Orthodox and 7% of Muslims identify by neither country of origin nor Arab American. By gender, the only significant difference appears in those who chose “neither,” where men were twice as likely (35%) as women (17%) to make that selection. 4. Importance of Ethnicity in Self DefinitionQuestion: How important is your ethnic heritage in defining who you are as a person? (Very important, somewhat important, not important, not sure.)
This is among the questions that provide comparisons of attitudes on ethnicity before and since the 9/11 attacks. Slightly more than half (52%) of all respondents surveyed in 2000 indicated their heritage was very important in defining themselves. Among subgroups, two fifths (41%) of U.S. born respondents reported high importance compared to close to three fourths (73%) of the foreign-born. Women were more likely by one third (60%) than men (42%) to report high importance of ethnicity in self-definition, and the gap between the youngest age cohort and those over 55 was slight (7%). Since 9/11, the percentage of all Arab Americans who reported their ethnicity as very important rose slightly to 59% when asked the month after the attacks, dipped to 49% six months later, and one year after the attacks returned to 59%. This increase is primarily attributed to responses among the U.S. born, who were more likely by 13 percentage points in October 2001 and a year later by 14% to report high importance of ethnicity. Responses by age cohort also shifted: the oldest age cohorts are reporting decreasing importance of ethnicity: from 59% in 2000 to 50% in 2001 and 46% in 2002. Conversely, more young Arab Americans are reporting high importance of ethnicity in self-definition. The percentage of those 18-34 who report their ethnic heritage as very important in defining who they are rose from 52% in 2000 to 63% in October 2001, to 73% in May 2002 and then to 66% in October 2002. 5. Pride in EthnicityQuestion: On a scale of 1-5 with 1 being not at all and 5 being extremely, how proud are you of your ethnic heritage?As a whole, there has been no significant change in the degree of pride Arab Americans feel in their ethnicity before or since 9/11, with a slight decline reported in October 2002. Roughly nine-tenths of all respondents report being very or extremely proud of their ethnic heritage (4+5). This remains consistent among all sub groups. 6. Strength of Ties to Country of OriginQuestion: How strong are your emotional ties to your family's country of origin (very strong, somewhat strong, not strong, not sure)?
The number of Arab Americans who report strong ties to their ancestral homeland has declined somewhat since 9/11. In February 2000, 56% of all respondents reported very strong ties. In October 2001, only 37% of survey respondents reported strong emotional ties; by 2002, about 42% of Arab American respondents reported strong ties to their country of origin. In the immediate wake of 9/11, less than one-third of US born respondents (31%) and slightly more than one half the foreign born (56%) reported strong ties. By May 2002, the foreign born were twice as likely (66%) to report strong emotional ties than their US born counterparts (34%) and by October 2002, the gap narrowed by around ten points (58% v. 36%). Among the age cohorts, the most significant fluctuation in homeland ties since 9/11 has been among young respondents. While around one third of the older cohort (55-69) reported strong ties throughout the year since the terror attacks, half of Arab Americans aged 18-34 (49%) reported strong ties in October 2001 while in May 2002, 62% of the young cohort reported strong ties. By October 2002 the number of young respondents who feel strong emotional ties to their homeland returned to 50%. One can speculate that the spike in May among young respondents reflects the political climate surrounding the Israeli incursions into Palestinian territories. 7. Political Attitudes (from October 2002 Survey for Egyptian Respondents)Note: Egyptian American respondents had the most spread in all political opinions of all Arab American groups.Sample questions: (1) How do you rate Bush’s overall performance
(2) How do you rate Bush’s handling of the Terrorist attacks? Note: in October 2001, 90% of all Arab Americans rated the president’s handling as good or excellent Among Egyptian American respondents in October 2002
(3) For which party’s candidate do you plan to vote in the 2002 congressional elections?
(4) In which of the following groups would you place yourself A= favor gun control, pro-choice, against vouchers for public schools B= oppose gun control, pro-life, support vouchers C= neither or undecided Among Egyptian Americans
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