Reclaiming Identity: Dismantling Arab Stereotypes

The goals of this online exhibit are to convey that: 1) Arab Americans have been an integral part of U.S. society since its inception; 2) there is a discrepancy between who Arab Americans are and how they are generally perceived by the U.S. public; 3) this discrepancy is the result of Orientalism: over generalized and distorted images and ideas produced by U.S. institutions, particularly the media; 4) stereotypes of Arabs are part of a longer history of Othering that has been faced by many ethnic groups; and 5) stereotypical representations are not harmless images but come with a range of consequences and impacts. We hope to facilitate a continuous dialogue around these issues in our blog.